Origins of the myth of social Darwinism: The ambiguous legacy of Richard Hofstadter's Social Darwinism in American Thought

Leonard, Thomas C.

doi:10.1016/j.jebo.2007.11.004

Cited by 100Economic Theory and InstitutionsMedical History and ResearchPhilosophy, History, and Historiography

Origins of the myth of social Darwinism: The ambiguous legacy of Richard Hofstadter's Social Darwinism in American Thought

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Leonard, Thomas C.·2009·Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization

DOI 10.1016/j.jebo.2007.11.004

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Using evolution to inform public policy became associated with social Darwinism and the justification of social inequality.
“Using evolution to inform public policy earned such a bad reputation that “social Darwinism” came to signify the justification of social inequality (Hofstadter 1959/1992; Leonard 2009).”
From Evolving the future: Toward a science of intentional change (2014) · cites this paper as Leonard 2009

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Authors: Leonard, T. C.
Affiliations: Princeton University (US)
Corresponding author: Leonard, Thomas C.
Venue: Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 2009-07
Volume: 71
Issue: 1
Pages: 37-51
ISSN: 0167-2681 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2007.11.004
OpenAlex: W2126686046
Cited by: 100
References: 68
Citations by year: 2026: 7 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 4
FWCI: 9.85
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
papers.ssrn.com
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization (publishedVersion)
SSRN Electronic Journal (submittedVersion)
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Economic Theory and Institutions
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Medical History and Research
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Philosophy, History, and Historiography
Keywords: social Darwinism, Richard Hofstadter, Progressive Era, eugenics, racism, imperialism, free market, economic reform

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Origins of the myth of social Darwinism: The ambiguous legacy of Richard Hofstadter's Social Darwinism in American Thought

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