Kropotkin Was No Crackpot

Question 1

What did people propose that Darwin’s concept of “evolutionary struggle” implied for human morality?

Answer 1

That only the most violent will survive and that peaceful cooperation will never come out on top.

Question 2

Why is Tolstoy’s criticism of natural selection unfair?

Answer 2

Extended it to human morality, when really nature provides no basis for human values.

Question 3

Explain Darwin’s wedge metaphor for species competition.

Answer 3

Nature is like a surface full of wedges (species). A new wedge (species) can only be forced in by displacing another.

Question 4

Contrary to Huxley’s views that combat is the criterion for evolutionary success, what did Kropotkin suggest?

Answer 4

That the struggle for existence leads to mutual aid.

Question 5

Why did many Russians not agree with Malthus’ views that a growing population would eventually outstrip it’s supplies of food and space?

Answer 5

Because Russia is a huge and underpopulated place. There’s no way these Russians could picture it getting too crowded for survival.

Question 6

What 2 forms of struggle did Kropotkin propose regarding natural selection?

Answer 6

1. Organism vs organism -> competition

2. Organism vs environment -> cooperation

Question 7

What 2 errors did Kropotkin commit in his criticism of competitive natural selection?

Answer 7

1. Failed to recognize that natural selection rewards individual organisms with advantages
2. Nature can not be entirely described as intrinsically good, it is not intrinsically anything