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

R. Weikart

Palgrave Macmillan US, Jun 30, 2004 - History - 312 pages

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.

About the author

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.

Bibliographic information

• Title: From Darwin to Hitler: Evolutionary Ethics, Eugenics and Racism in Germany
• Author: R. Weikart
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan US, 2004
• ISBN: 1403965021, 9781403965028
• Length: 312 pages
• Subjects: History / Europe / General; History / General; History / Modern / General; Philosophy / Ethics & Moral Philosophy; Science / Life Sciences / Evolution