Hitler was influenced by Darwin's theory of evolution

Further writing from Hitler in Mein Kampf... "In order to elucidate this point of view it may be worth while to glance once again at the real origins and causes of the cultural evolution of mankind. The first step which visibly brought mankind away from the animal world was that which led to the first invention. The invention itself owes its origin to the ruses and stratagems which man employed to assist him in the struggle with other creatures for his existence and often to provide him with the only means he could adopt to achieve success in the struggle..." "...Because everyone who believes in the higher evolution of living organisms must admit that every manifestation of the vital urge and struggle to live must have had a definite beginning in time and that one subject alone must have manifested it for the first time. It was then repeated again and again; and the practice of it spread over a widening area, until finally it passed into the subconscience of every member of the species, where it manifested itself as 'instinct...' "...His first skilled tactics in the struggle with the rest of the animals undoubtedly originated in his management of creatures which possessed special capabilities..." "...Originally they sprang from the brain of a single individual and in the course of many years, maybe even thousands of years, they were accepted all round as a matter of course and this gained universal validity..." "...Such men of brains are selected mainly, as I have already said, through the hard struggle for existence itself. In this struggle there are many who break down and collapse and thereby show that they are not called by Destiny to fill the highest positions; and only very few are left who can be classed among the elect. In the realm of thought and of artistic creation, and even in the economic field, this same process of selection takes place, although – especially in the economic field – its operation is heavily handicapped. This same principle of selection rules in the administration of the State and in that department of power which personifies the organized military defence of the nation. The idea of personality rules everywhere, the authority of the individual over his subordinates and the responsibility of the individual towards the persons who are placed over him. It is only in political life that this very natural principle has been completely excluded. Though all human civilization has resulted exclusively from the creative activity of the individual, the principle that it is the mass which counts – through the decision of the majority – makes its appearance only in the administration of the national community especially in the higher grades; and from there downwards the poison gradually filters into all branches of national life, thus causing a veritable decomposition. The destructive workings of Judaism in different parts of the national body can be ascribed fundamentally to the persistent Jewish efforts at undermining the importance of personality among the nations that are their hosts and, in place of personality, substituting the domination of the masses. The constructive principle of Aryan humanity is thus displaced by the destructive principle of the Jews, They become the 'ferment of decomposition' among nations and races and, in a broad sense, the wreckers of human civilization."Though edited, these comments from Vol. 2, Chap. 4 [1], clearly show Hitler showing "cultural evolution" of man, through the use of Darwin's theory. He talks about how we started equal to animals, then separated ourselves through struggle, and ultimately the stronger taking hold and rising above the weaker. He even refers to the process as "selection". Then he talks about how the Jews are the destructive principle in the national body, and the Aryans the constructive.Con's Rebuttal Racial Views...Perhaps looking at the entire title of Darwin's book will help drive the point home..."The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection or the Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life." What Hitler knew about genes is unclear, but it's clear that he saw the Aryans as that favored race that Darwin referred to, and was intent on aiding natural selection by eliminating undesireables from the gene pool.Scientific Knowledge...Yes, they did know about breeding, and it's no coincidence that Darwin's first chapter was titled, "Variation Under Domestication", where he talks about what he knew about plants and animals under domestication. Obviously, breeding had happened long before Darwin, but just because it was used prior, does not exclude it from being part of the Darwinian theory that Hitler was trying to aid along. Breeding is a vital part of evolution, and to try and remove it just because it pre-existed Darwin is unreasonable. Darwin also titled chapter 7, "Instinct", and Hitler referred to this in an earlier passage that I posted, in fact there are several paragraphs about instinct in that chapter..."Because everyone who believes in the higher evolution of living organisms must admit that every manifestation of the vital urge and struggle to live must have had a definite beginning in time and that one subject alone must have manifested it for the first time. It was then repeated again and again; and the practice of it spread over a widening area, until finally it passed into the subconscience of every member of the species, where it manifested itself as 'instinct.'" [1] Con's Case 1. Rather than argue over Table Talks, I'll withdraw the quote, but not the point. Many people believe that God created the universe and used evolution to get us to where we are now. It's obvious that he hated Christianity, but even if I concede that he was a creationist, it still doesn't mean that he wasn't influenced by Darwin's theory. Hitler's own words and actions bear that fact.2. Hitler believed that he was helping natural selection by making it artificial, and removing the undesirables from the gene pool. Yes this eliminates the variety, but he believed that the end would be the same, that the Aryan race was strongest and was destined to win out.3. As I showed in the opening of this round, he does indeed mention evolution as well as natural selection. He even says that at one point we were equal to animals. Nature's will was in Mein Kampf.4. The Nazi regime was full of evolutionists. There is no doubt that they adapted natural selection into artificial selection, and this manifested in the sterilization and eugenics programs.5. Just because some things were mis-named does not mean that Social Darwinism is an invalid term. I could point to a number of things that were named correctly, and this is one of them. Darwinism opens itself to being used in that manner, which is why the name caught on. Survival of the strong, eugenics, etc., can all be defended in light of Darwinism. "Early proponents of eugenics believed that, through selective breeding, the human species should direct its own evolution." [2] 1. http://www.hitler.org...; 2. http://en.wikipedia.org...;