Survival of the fittest
Survival of the Fittest
Survival of the fittest (/səˈvaɪvəl ɒv ðə ˈfɪtɪst/) is a phrase that originated from Darwinian evolutionary theory as a way of describing the mechanism of natural selection. The term was coined by Herbert Spencer after reading Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species. The phrase is a metaphor, not an exact description of the process of natural selection.
Etymology
The phrase "survival of the fittest" was first used in Herbert Spencer's Principles of Biology (1864) after reading Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection. The term is often misunderstood to mean "only the most physically strong or aggressive individuals will survive". However, in the context of evolution, "fit" refers to "best adapted to the current environment".
Related Terms
- Natural Selection: The process in nature by which, according to Darwin's theory of evolution, only the organisms best adapted to their environment tend to survive and transmit their genetic characteristics in increasing numbers to succeeding generations while those less adapted tend to be eliminated.
- Evolution: The process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth.
- Adaptation: The action or process of adapting or being adapted. In biology, it refers to the physical or behavioral characteristics of an organism that help it to survive and reproduce in its environment.
- Fitness (biology): In evolutionary theory, fitness is the quantitative representation of natural and sexual selection within evolutionary biology.
- Herbert Spencer: An English philosopher, biologist, anthropologist, sociologist, and prominent classical liberal political theorist of the Victorian era who coined the term "survival of the fittest".
- Charles Darwin: An English naturalist, geologist and biologist, best known for his contributions to the science of evolution.
See Also
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