MARXISM AND DARWINISM. 29 



as "the best antidote to the Socialist demand of mak- 

 ing all equal." ^-'f 



The same holds good, but to a greater extent, of 

 the Darwinian theory of survival. Socialism wants to 

 abolish competition and the struggle for existence. 

 But Darwinism teaches us that this struggle is un- 

 avoidable and is a natural law for the entire organic 

 world. Not only is this struggle natural, but it is 

 also useful and beneficial. This struggle brings an 

 ever greater perfection, and this perfection consists in 

 an ever greater extermination of the unfit. Only the 

 chosen minority, those who are qualified to withstand 

 competition, can survive;, the great majority njust 

 perish. Many are called, but few are chosen." The 

 struggle for existence results at the same time in a 

 victory for the best, while the bad and unfit must 

 perish. This may be lamentable, just as it is lament- 

 able that all must die, but the fact can neither be de- 

 nied nor changed- 



We wish to remark here how a small change of 

 . almost similar words serves as a defence of capitalism. 

 Darwin spoke about the survival of the fittest, of those 

 that are best fitted to the conditions. Seeing that in 

 this struggle those that are better organized conquer 

 the others, the conquerors were called the vigilant, and 

 later the "best." This expression was coined by Her- 

 bert Spencer, In thus winning on their field, the con- 

 querors in the social struggle, the large capitalists, 

 v7 were 4)roclaimed the best people. 



. ( Haeckel retained and still upholds this conception, 

 /in r592 he said . "Darwinism.^r t hf: theor.YjQLs elect ion, 

 is thoroughly aristocratic; it is based upon the survival 

 of the best. The division of labor brought about by 

 development causes an ever greater variation in char- 



