ipl-logo

Overview Of Hunger Games: The Cultural Dimensions Of Darwinism

663 Words3 Pages

Rex Evans
Frontier Adventures and Hunger Games: The Cultural Dimensions of Darwinism
June 26, 2015
Dr. Patrick B. Sharp

In certain sections of the Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, Charles Darwin shows the physiological progress of humans over time in their use of technology because of Natural Selection, and how he believes this was beneficial to man. Published on February 24, 1871 the Descent of Man was the follow-up to On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, which is widely considered to be the foundation of evolutionary biology. In chapter two, Darwin explores man’s development and evolution:
I can see no reason why it should not have been advantageous... to have become more and more …show more content…

Therefore, the bipedal man could better protect himself and would “have survived in larger numbers." In the second sentence of this passage, Darwin uses the word “thus” to show that as a result of man becoming bipedal, he would, as Darwin said, have “succeeded the best..." Darwin uses the last sentence to emphasize how natural selection took over to make man “more and more erect or bipedal.” To Darwin, this is definitely a positive development because this better-adapted, and technically proficient man would “rear the greatest number of offspring…” and “increase in number…” (Darwin, 128). Through his reasoning for man becoming bipedal, Charles Darwin intertwined technological competence and progress in a way that showed how he believed evolution improved and bettered …show more content…

Because these are primitive instincts, Darwin is showing that evolution is making man more sophisticated, and thus able to “survive in greater numbers” (Darwin, 48). The word “gradually” is used to show that it was a slow process over time. Darwin is trying to stress not only that evolution takes time to occur, but also that it benefits man and causes progress. If the jaws and teeth are not as big, the skull can accommodate a larger brain (Darwin, 54), and because having a larger brain in proportion to your body is “closely connected with his higher mental powers” (Darwin, 54), having smaller teeth and jaws with a more complex brain would be of an advantage to man’s progenitors, Darwin reasons. According to Darwin, “These...inventions...are the direct results of the development of his powers of observation, memory, curiosity, imagination, and reason.” (Darwin, 49) Therefore, “higher mental powers” would allow man to advance technology and thus “survive in greater numbers” (Darwin, 48). Essentially, in the Descent of Man’s second chapter Charles Darwin shows how he believes a more sophisticated man, competent with technology, is better able to expand the species, which, to him, is

Show More
Related
190 Words | 1 Pages

From the very start, Gene’s insecurities have fueled his inner war. These insecurities were illustrated when Gene made up a rivalry between him and Finny. Gene was talking about running for class president, and asked Finny if he would mind if he won. Finny responds by saying “I would kill myself over jealousy envy” (Knowles 52) in a joking manner. However, Gene misreads this as a threat and comes to the conclusion that “The deadly rivalry was on both sides after all” (Knowles 54).

Read More
1057 Words | 5 Pages

In his acclaimed novel, “The Book that Changed America: How Darwin’s Theory of Evolution Ignited a Nation,” Randall Fuller explores the groundbreaking work of esteemed natural biologist Charles Darwin and his 1859 work, “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.” He documents the work’s travels throughout America and its circulation among New England’s intellectual elite, focusing on the explosive reactions to its previously unimaginable claims; theologians, scientists, Transcendentalist philosophers, abolitionists, and pro-slavery apologists alike all had something to say about this new theory. Fuller’s brilliant interpretation of this cultural upheaval, using personal writings from the desks of intellectual giants, cements Darwin’s

Read More
1551 Words | 7 Pages

Social Darwinism and new discoveries of science began to fill the minds of people

Read More
691 Words | 3 Pages

Elena R, Lauren L, Abby R, Natasha O 4/28/23 “A Better Idea” Essay � Pride has long been a critical part of human culture. It has never been more apparent than in evolution. In his book Natural Acts, A Sidelong View of Science and Nature, David Quammen utilizes tone, syntax and an appeal to pathos to accomplish his contradict that humans are the epitome of evolution and knock humans off their pedestal. In the first two paragraphs Quammen uses facts and a more formal language as a way to establish his purpose that humans might not be as high and mighty as scientists claim.

Read More
2359 Words | 10 Pages

Although there were some downs on the progress, like the Dark Ages, where the “good Roman laws were forgotten and the beautiful Greek statues had been smashed to pieces (Gombrich 110), Gombrich has proven that there was more progress in human’s potentials. What makes a difference between humans and the rest of the animals are that humans are capable of using tools for the benefits. Gombrich has presented the progress in technology, by using an example of the earliest tools ever found. Those were the tools made by prehistoric people in the Stone Age. This was the revolutionary stage of the progress in technology, as we, the humans, were the first ones, to ever use tools for their own benefit.

Read More
142 Words | 1 Pages

In Marilynne Robinson’s 2012 essay “Cosmology,” Robinson presents the idea of a sort of social Darwinism as a potentially misguided embrace of human brutism birthed from an interpretation of the Darwinian conception of natural selection. This idea, Robinson contends, is most attractive to those who perceive their societal facticity as a constriction on some certain “freedom,” a freedom most akin to open hostility with others as one would expect of animals competing for resources. The irony of this sort of social Darwinism lay in its essentialism with respect to the brutism it ascribes to even modern man, not allowing for the progression of man to a higher, less baleful being. In this irony Robinson finds the sort of conception of social Darwinism

Read More
1413 Words | 6 Pages

Together, Bacon and Darwin make up the dream team of the scientific world. Bacon’s four idols can be related to Darwin’s natural selection by: the idol of the tribe as the opinion of natural selection, the idol of cave relates to the impact natural selection has on man, the third idol, the marketplace, reflects the conversation about natural selection, and the idol is theater is the idea that natural selection suggests to the public. Charles Darwin is a crucial character in the history of scientific thought, his biggest role pertained to natural selection, and from then on the idea of evolution. Ed Grabianowski commented in his summary of natural selection that, “Natural Selection is the engine that drives evolution.” (Grabianowski)

Read More
826 Words | 4 Pages

Conformity, in relation to societal norms, happens to be something many people strive to deviate from, yet only few are able to achieve. One reason for this could be because the media nowadays is being blamed for manipulating people to subconsciously adhere to certain views. The media is being used to evoke certain thoughts, whether it be about purchasing something being advertised in a commercial, or even in news reports to give the viewers a certain impression on a topic. Likewise, there are people who are successful in resisting this level of conformity. In real life, Lynn Coady, author of Genius or Madness? would exemplify such behaviour, based on what ideas are presented in the essay.

Read More
772 Words | 4 Pages

This is the raw, intense story of The Hunger Games and my conclusion on it. This story is written by Susanne Collins, this story is about 12 districts who are all ruled by the Capitol, the capitol has many different ways of punishing these districts. One of the many ways the capitol punishes these districts is by having them select two tributes from each district male and female to fight to the death until there is one winner in an event named The Hunger Games. My thesis statement is that people are being desensitized to violence some examples include: How the capitol’s remorse level is extremely low for the pain and suffering they have inflicted on the people within these 12 districts another example is how the capitol is always in full control

Read More
339 Words | 2 Pages

Suzanne Collins’ novel The Hunger Games is about stereotyping and dehumanization as ways government uses to control ordinary citizens of Panem. The main character, Katniss Everdeen, is forced to take part in the Hunger Games, which is one of the main approaches to dominate over the country. Even though Katniss is pressed to face various difficulties, the novel focuses on political and social problems that are faced in modern society. The definition of the word dehumanization by Merriam-Webster is to ‘depriving human qualities, personality, or split’.

Read More
446 Words | 2 Pages

The Hunger Games: A Modern Day Odyssey? The Hunger Games is about a civilization that randomly selects two members from the different districts. Those two members are then forced to fight in an “arena” in which there is only one victor. In a way the Hunger Games is very similar to the Odyssey. The Odyssey begins years after the Trojan War has ended and Odysseus has not returned home.

Read More
331 Words | 2 Pages

The question ask, which person has more of an impact on Katniss’s survival in the games. Gale or Peeta? To an extent, it is both of them. Gail tough Katniss how to set traps and how to provide for her family when her mom could not, and how to use what little she had, although Peeta did help Katniss when she got stung by tracker jackers by telling her to “RUN”.

Read More
1494 Words | 6 Pages

The Hunger Games is a film series that was based off the novels written by Suzanne Collins. It stars Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark, and Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne. The Hunger Games (2012) was the first movie in the series followed by Catching Fire (2013), Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014), and then ending with Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015). The Hunger Games is the 15th highest-grossing film franchise of all time, having grossed over US$2.9 billion worldwide. This film is an American dystopian science fiction adventure (The Hunger Games (film)).

Read More
1053 Words | 5 Pages

The dystopian society in human behaviour is very intricate where leadership is never challenged or changed. The society is expected to implement whatever comes from above without questioning its validity and significance. The film, ‘The Hunger Games’ shows beyond doubt, scrutiny of the totalitarian governments and the concept of social control. This is a traditional society where the leader has all the power in his hands, and the people in the society have very little to say on their own future. ‘The Hunger Games’, is well shown a trilogy that takes place in Panem, a country with 12 districts that are controlled by the Capital.

Read More
1126 Words | 5 Pages

Introduction The theory of evolution has been discussed, evaluated, and researched many times since the theory was first brought to light. Darwin’s theory of evolution is said to be divided into two parts, common decent and natural selection (Bouzat, 2014). Many research papers agreeing with Darwin’s theory comment on the diversity of a species and how they have descended from one common ancestor. Natural selection is a process in which species that are better adapted to the environment tend to survive and reproduce (Dictonary.com).

Read More

More about Overview Of Hunger Games: The Cultural Dimensions Of Darwinism

Related Topics

Open Document