However, sometimes humans are viewed as going against this concept of survival of the fittest. When people hunt, they look for the best meat, wanting to kill the strongest. Humans are killing the animals that are the most fit to survive. not wanting the weak and/or sick animals. There are even laws put into place of certain hunting seasons. If humans went around hunting some animals, such as deer nonstop, deer would become an endangered species. Humans put a large emphasis on protecting animals from extinction. One of Coates' concepts of nature that relates to this, is that nature is the opposite of culture. That means that there is large separation between nature and culture because we inherently separate ourselves from nature (Coates, 1998). We do this by making ourselves seem superior, acting like a "god" by doing things such as protecting animals (World Wild Life). However, in the large scheme of things, humans are the most superior species, so everything we do has a reason which allows us to prosper (Frost, 2005). This case does make sense, humans want to be able to live long and prosper. This can be seen in the case of vaccines and things of the like, humans are just trying to survive, given the qualities granted to us.
However, when specifically regarding humans, there are also techniques used to get rid of the weak. Humans in the past have really tried to understand the evolution of a species and how heredity plays into that. In the twentieth century, eugenics became a highly popularized practice. Eugenics was founded after the study of genetics as most people interested in genetics were interested in "its connection with eugenics- the cluster of ideas and activities that aimed at improving the quality of the human race through the manipulation of its biological heredity" (Kelves, 4). The main goal of eugenics were to get rid of those who were weak, and were seen as "unfit" to survive. Doctors sterilized patients, which made them unable to reproduce. The large majority of people sterilized were accused of being "feeble-minded". Feeble-mindedness was later defined as "a vigorous animal organism of low intellect but strong physique- the wild man of today (Kelves, 7). Others classified as feeble-minded did not have "one or the other of the factors essential to a moral life- an understanding of right and wrong and the power of control" (Kelves, 7). Anyone who did not have an adequate life, they could be uneducated or even just poor, was a possible subject of sterilization. However, the practice of eugenics can be seen as natural. Humans were using the idea of nature of nature being a guide in order to allow this practice. Eugenics is supported by survival of the fittest. In the end, the feeble-minded would be the weakest and die out anyway. People argued that just preventative measures were being taken by disallowing people to reproduce (Kelves, 1992).
Picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mystic750/6694894189/sizes/l/in/photostream/
However, when specifically regarding humans, there are also techniques used to get rid of the weak. Humans in the past have really tried to understand the evolution of a species and how heredity plays into that. In the twentieth century, eugenics became a highly popularized practice. Eugenics was founded after the study of genetics as most people interested in genetics were interested in "its connection with eugenics- the cluster of ideas and activities that aimed at improving the quality of the human race through the manipulation of its biological heredity" (Kelves, 4). The main goal of eugenics were to get rid of those who were weak, and were seen as "unfit" to survive. Doctors sterilized patients, which made them unable to reproduce. The large majority of people sterilized were accused of being "feeble-minded". Feeble-mindedness was later defined as "a vigorous animal organism of low intellect but strong physique- the wild man of today (Kelves, 7). Others classified as feeble-minded did not have "one or the other of the factors essential to a moral life- an understanding of right and wrong and the power of control" (Kelves, 7). Anyone who did not have an adequate life, they could be uneducated or even just poor, was a possible subject of sterilization. However, the practice of eugenics can be seen as natural. Humans were using the idea of nature of nature being a guide in order to allow this practice. Eugenics is supported by survival of the fittest. In the end, the feeble-minded would be the weakest and die out anyway. People argued that just preventative measures were being taken by disallowing people to reproduce (Kelves, 1992).
Picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mystic750/6694894189/sizes/l/in/photostream/