Darwinism and Confucianism

English naturalist and biologist Charles Darwin (1809–1882) is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Western intellectual history. His groundbreaking work, On the Origin of Species (1859), fundamentally reshaped the way the West understands the natural world.

Darwin's theory is based on the idea of natural selection. Organisms with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce. This is largely due to the fact that variations occur within all populations of organisms. Throughout the lives of the individuals their genomes interact with their environments to cause random mutations arise in the genome, which can be passed on to offspring. If a particular trait enhances survival and reproductive success, it becomes more prevalent over generations, driving the evolution of species.

Although most scientists now accept evolution as descent with modification, not all concur with Darwin's assertion that natural selection is the primary—though not exclusive—mechanism behind it. Some advanced competing theories that assigned a more limited role to natural selection. Critics argued that Darwin overemphasized the "struggle for existence" and "survival of the fittest" among individuals, while underestimating the role of interdependence, cooperation, and ecological balance—both within and among species—in ensuring survival and evolutionary success. (See Pluralism vs. Monism.)

Darwin’s theory revolutionized biology and our understanding of life itself, but it also produced adverse impacts. Concepts such as "struggle for existence" and "survival of the fittest" were misapplied to human societies, giving rise to ideologies like social Darwinism, individualism, exceptionalism, racism, "law of the jungle" thinking, zero-sum competition, and unipolar hegemony. These distortions eroded human solidarity, social harmony, and prospects for peace. The harm caused by these ideologies should not be underestimated: Western civilization, particularly in the post-Darwin era, has been marked by militarism, conquest, colonization, genocide, exploitation, and plundering—with Darwin’s fellow countrymen playing a central role. These ideologies also fueled Western capitalism that led to brutal competitions, massive inequality, resource depletion, ecological destruction, and environmental degradation. (See Democracy vs. Plutocracy.)

By contrast, Darwinism has had less ideological influence in the East, where Confucianism has long shaped cultural and philosophical foundations. Confucian thought emphasizes harmony between humanity and nature, the shared destiny of humankind, and the ideal of peaceful coexistence. It offers a holistic worldview that sees the universe as an interconnected whole rather than a battlefield of competing interests. While acknowledging contradictions and tensions, Confucianism seeks to resolve them through balance, mutual dependence, and the integration of diverse elements—discouraging antagonism and the elimination of adversaries.

Where Darwinism stresses the instinct for individual survival, Confucianism elevates the moral and intellectual potential of human beings above primal impulses. Confucius articulated this ethical vision through five core virtues: 仁 (ren—benevolence, compassion, and love), 義 (yi—righteousness, justice, and equity), 禮 (li—propriety, morality, and law), 智 (zhi—wisdom, knowledge, and reason), and 信 (xin—trust, integrity, and good faith). Unlike the animal world, where the strong prey upon the weak, Confucianism holds that human civilization must transcend the "law of the jungle." The flourishing of society depends on moral cultivation, social cooperation, and the collective pursuit of the common good. (See Understanding China: Geography, Confucianism, and Chinese-Style Modernization).

While it is still too early to render a definitive judgment on the relative merits of Eastern versus Western philosophies, current global trends suggest that values rooted in civilization, collectivism, cooperation, and shared prosperity may ultimately serve humanity better than those driven by barbarism, individualism, selfishness, and ruthless competition. The rise of the East and the relative decline of the West point to the enduring relevance of Confucian values. This philosophical divergence also echoes in cultural expressions such as tango. (See Philosophies that Separate Two Worlds.)