The Colosseum: An Example Of Social Darwinism In Ancient Rome

In ancient Roman times going to the Colosseum to go see somebody fight for their life was just a way to have fun. Nowadays, if somebody were to classify watching people die as entertainment, they would be put into a mental institution. During the time the Colosseum was in use in Rome, the whole idea of watching this for entertainment is very social darwinistic. Transition into this idea Social Darwinism is the theory that the laws of natural selection Charles Darwin observed in plants and animals in nature are applicable to groups of the human race (Encyclopedia Britannica). This theorem first emerged in the late 19th century created by a man named Herbert Spencer. Herbert’s theory was the inspiration for some of the goriest genocides in the

In ancient Rome during the time that the Colosseum was in use, a person was chosen to fight for their life based on their social status (History.com). In the early times of the Colosseum the people that were brought to fight in front of the audience of were slaves and criminals (History.com). These people would be forced to murder other slaves or criminals in an attempt to save their own life because the were thought of as lesser in the eyes of Rome. A secondary example of social Darwinism that is present in society today is Isis. Isis is a terrorist group located in Syria that believes everybody should believe in Islam, and if a person doesn’t they should be killed (Stream). Isis’ thought process can be tied to social Darwinism because the people of this terrorist group think that all other religions need to convert to Islam or die because Islam the only right religion in the World. As you can now see, social Darwinism is evident in past and present societies in the Eastern

For example, General Zaroff states, “Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and, if needs be, taken by the strong.” (The Most Dangerous Game). General Zaroff is implying that just like in nature when plants and animals must compete to live, it is the same for humans. A secondary quotation that implies social Darwinism is “I refuse to believe that so modern and civilized a young man as you seem to be harbors romantic ideas about the value of human life.” (The Most Dangerous Game). In this passage General Zaroff is trying to persuade Rainsford to believe that this way of thinking is not wrong, it’s just the way nature works. Finally, General Zaroff states “hunting had ceased to be what you call `a sporting proposition.' It had become too easy. I always got my quarry. Always. There is no greater bore than perfection.”(The Most Dangerous Game). When General Zaroff states this he gives an excuse as to why he hunts people. This statement is trying to challenge Rainford’s beliefs even though he knows that hunting people is acting in a social Darwinistic manner. To conclude, social Darwinism is evident in