Jeckewicz 1
John Gannon
SOC 101
March 30, 2014
"The Meaning of Class: Is Getting Rich 'the Survival of the Fittest?'"
1. How much do you think inequality in our society can correctly be described as “the
survival of the fittest”? Why?
In society “the survival of the fittest” is a measure of how well society is doing as an
individual. The people in our government and celebrities are higher up in the social chain and
look down on all of the rest of society. Since they have so much power they can pretty much do
what they want and get away with it, which is the reward from the idea of “the survival of the
fittest.” Unlike the rest of society the average person is making only $10.00 per hour which
means he or she has to work harder for his or her wage. The rest of society does not have as
much power which means they have to follow the rules and can’t get away with anything they
like. People higher up in the chain can do drugs and get break the law, all they have to do is pay
off their punishment. The inequality in our society can correctly be described as “the survival of
the fittest” because the people who grew up in high classes, lived in nicer areas, or has more
money can afford to survive whereas the people below that group has to work harder and has a
larger struggle to survive under those means.
2. Why do you think Spencer’s ideas are still popular in the United States today?
Herbert Spencer’s idea about the “survival of the fittest” is still popular in the United
States. A prime example of where these ideas are being used is in our education systems. Kids
John Gannon
SOC 101
March 30, 2014
"The Meaning of Class: Is Getting Rich 'the Survival of the Fittest?'"
1. How much do you think inequality in our society can correctly be described as “the
survival of the fittest”? Why?
In society “the survival of the fittest” is a measure of how well society is doing as an
individual. The people in our government and celebrities are higher up in the social chain and
look down on all of the rest of society. Since they have so much power they can pretty much do
what they want and get away with it, which is the reward from the idea of “the survival of the
fittest.” Unlike the rest of society the average person is making only $10.00 per hour which
means he or she has to work harder for his or her wage. The rest of society does not have as
much power which means they have to follow the rules and can’t get away with anything they
like. People higher up in the chain can do drugs and get break the law, all they have to do is pay
off their punishment. The inequality in our society can correctly be described as “the survival of
the fittest” because the people who grew up in high classes, lived in nicer areas, or has more
money can afford to survive whereas the people below that group has to work harder and has a
larger struggle to survive under those means.
2. Why do you think Spencer’s ideas are still popular in the United States today?
Herbert Spencer’s idea about the “survival of the fittest” is still popular in the United
States. A prime example of where these ideas are being used is in our education systems. Kids
