Darwinism and Race Progress

"Darwinism and Race Progress" by John Berry Haycraft is a late 19th-century scientific exploration of evolution and race. It considers how evolutionary ideas might shed light on the progress and decline of different races. Haycraft argues that improvements in individual well-being and ethics due to modern society do not assure racial superiority or strength. By examining the history of nations like the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, Haycraft shows how civilizations rise and fall while certain racial groups stay remarkably consistent. Highlighting examples like Scandinavians and Jews, he suggests that societal and political shifts often hide more fundamental, biological traits, setting up an investigation into how modern advancements affect humanity's future.