From Darwin to Hitler: Evolutionary Ethics, Eugenics and Racism in Germany - Couverture souple

Weikart, R.

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 140397201X ISBN 13 : 9781403972019

Editeur : Palgrave Macmillan, 2006

Synopsis

In this work, Richard Weikart explains the revolutionary impact Darwinism had on ethics and morality. He demonstrates that many leading Darwinian biologists and social thinkers in Germany believed that Darwinism overturned traditional Judeo-Christian and Enlightenment ethics, especially the view that human life is sacred. Many of these thinkers supported moral relativism, yet simultaneously exalted evolutionary 'fitness' (especially intelligence and health) to the highest arbiter of morality. Darwinism played a key role in the rise not only of eugenics, but also euthanasia, infanticide, abortion and racial extermination. This was especially important in Germany, since Hitler built his view of ethics on Darwinian principles, not on nihilism.

A propos du livre

À propos de l'auteur

RICHARD WEIKART is an Associate Professor of Modern European History, California State University, Stanislaus, USA. He has had two previous books published, including Socialist Darwinism: Evolution in German Socialist Thought from Marx to Bernstein (1999), as well as articles in German Studies Review, Journal of the History of Ideas, Isis, European Legacy and History of European Ideas.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Palgrave Macmillan
• Date d'édition: 2006
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 140397201X
• ISBN 13: 9781403972019
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 328
• Coordonnées du fabricant: Springer Nature Customer Service Center GmbH; ProductSafety@springernature.com; ; Europaplatz 3,69115 Heidelberg, Germany; Heidelberg; 69115; Allemagne