Survival of the Fittest (Unless the Chips are Down)

 

Survival of the fittest sounds great — until you realize you’re not the fittest

Arun Kumar

Arun Kumar + AI

Let Social Darwinism guide the evolution of humanity, society, and civilizations.

Let meritocracy reign, where individuals rise or fall solely on their abilities.

Let governments not overreach, lest they stifle the will to compete, to excel, and to innovate.

Let free markets determine winners and losers.

Let the victors take all — and then some.

These lofty ideals are the essence of Social Darwinism. They sound noble when one is ahead in the race. The true test of conviction comes when the tide turns, when the chips are down, and when clinging to these principles means embracing one’s own downfall.

Take Republicans in the United States.

While they champion limited government and free-market competition, their commitment often wavers when winning elections becomes the priority.

Consider the Great Recession of 2008: Republican leaders backed massive government bailouts for financial institutions — entities that, by Social Darwinist logic, should have been left to perish. When the prospect of losing elections and power loomed, the harsh doctrine of self-reliance suddenly lost its luster.

One day, perhaps, we will hear a Republican — ruined not by personal failure but by sheer misfortune — stand firm in their beliefs. They will reject assistance, declaring I would rather perish than betray my faith in Social Darwinism. I competed and lost. Let me meet my fate with dignity.

And when peace of conviction embraces that noble soul, we shall build a shrine in their honor — an eternal tribute to one who truly lived by the creed of survival of the fittest.

Ciao, and thanks for reading.