Exploration of Social Darwinism within Jack Londons The Sea Wolf Free Essay Example, 750 words

ï » ¿An Exploration of Social Darwinism within Jack London's "The Sea Wolf" Social Darwinism Social Darwinism is a societal ideology which seeks to apply biological and evolutionary concepts of Darwinism to politics and sociology, assuming that group conflict leads to social development as a result of superior groups outperforming those inferior. The use of the survival and existence concepts is employed in social Darwinism in justifying social policies, and it does not differentiate between the rich and the poor. Many of these views emphasize on competition as clearly demonstrated in Jack London's "The Sea Wolf. " This novel is a near perfect hypothesis of social Darwinism at its best. The term "Social Darwinism" was coined in 1944, after the book was written thus being the reason that it is not present within the novel. This term however is a tag given to the philosophy advocated by Wolf Larsen to justify his dictatorial domination of others. His library is known to contain Darwin, Malthus and Spencer’s works who are influential theorists of the concept. Although his biological theories were usually used to support and enlighten on the concept of sociology, Darwin himself did not uphold these very concepts of Social Darwinism, that social inequality is the inevitable result arising from meritocratic division of existing resources. We will write a custom essay sample on Exploration of Social Darwinism within Jack London's The Sea Wolf or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now These are the very basics which have been used to justify laissez-faire capitalism and racism concepts, almost certainly advocated by Wolf Larsen (Bannister, 2000). The concept of Social Darwinism is summarized by Larsen in his comprehensive comparison of a yeasty ferment of existence. The problem of course is the application of these talents and intellectual freedom. Wolf Larsen does not seem able to move beyond using his individualism and his very real powers to dominate those around him. When a sailor, Johnson challenges Larsen (much like van Weyden often did), but Larsen brutally beats him. Larsen probably agrees with London on the utter futility of cooperation and altruism in a Darwinian world. I see no evidence that London read Kropotkin’s Mutual Aid, which shows that natural selection favors cooperation as much as it does with conflict and struggle (Bannister, 2000). Larsen is approximately five feet with a massive build with broad s houlders certainly embodying power. He has a solid academic background, his father being a doctor in physics. He has a B. A in Economics and statistics and an MBA. He was also actively involved in sports and acting. He is a very all rounded individual and way above average in whatever he sets out to do. Born in West Berlin, Germany, his parents met when his father was stationed in Berlin for six years, his mother being of Scandinavian descent (Bannister, 2000). The most elaborate excerpt from the novel which greatly illuminates his position as per social Darwinism is where he says that he thought that life was ferment and that living may have been a mere successful priggishness. Here, he wonders loudly why supply and demand makes life one of the cheapest things in the world according to his opinion. He argues that the abundance of earth, water and air make life so easy, yet people still struggle to survive (London, 1904, p. 301). This is by far the most elaborate as per this topi c. In this novel, we see London’s ocean-borne exploration of social Darwinism at its most elemental. The world of the ghost, the ship on which the sea wolf unfolds, is an overtly social Darwinian mocrocosm, a high-seas Hobbesian state of nature ruled by an explicitly satanic tyrant. The tension builds towards critical confrontation between Van Weyden and captain. This is where we see Larsen begin to preach the passion of revolt and declares his allegiance to Milton’s vision of the fallen angel. Larsen shows a harsh though nonetheless valid interpretation of Nietzsche’s focus on power, combined with pitiless theories of social selection to form the imperative â€Å"Might is right, and that’s all there is to it. † Wolf Larsen is like the global capitalist class in that he does not feel the need to justify his actions because they are simply the logical extension of natural law. This is the way the world is. He argues that to dream of alternatives w here brutality and exploitation do not exist is a waste of energy (Bowler, 2003). However, we should ask ourselves this, ‘does individualism lead either to being an exploiter who realizes her power over her neighbors, or the exploited, who failed to realize she needs others?    Individualism builds upon a foundation of solidarity and community is one way to negotiate this dilemma. Unfortunately, we live in Wolf Larsen’s world and in the Wolf Larsen’s world, Wolf Larsen will rule, since Social Darwinism rules (Bannister, 2000). References   Bannister, R.C. (2000). Social Darwinism. Retrieved January 2, 2011, from http: //autocww. colorado. edu/~toldy2/E64ContentFiles/SociologyAndReform/SocialDarw inism. html Bowler, P. J. (2003). Evolution: The History of an Idea. California: University of California Press. London, J. (1904). The Sea-Wolf. London: Macmillan.