Hitler was influenced by Darwin's theory of evolution

Pro's caseMy opponent brings up two uses of the word "evolution" in Mein Kampf.The word evolution first appeared in English in the 17th century, referring to an orderly sequence of events.[1]The concept of evolution in the mere sense of development predates Darwinian theory by over 200 years. What distinguishes Darwin's theory is not use of the word evolution. Although we call it Darwin's theory of evolution, Darwin only used the word once in On the Origin of Species, prefering "descent with modification." We may talk of the evolution of the solar system and this, despite creationist confusion, has nothing to do with Darwinism. This difference in evolution as development and evolution as in Darwin's theory is made clearer in German by the fact that they use completely different words to refer to the two different concepts.In the examples my opponent posts, the German word translated as evolution is "entwicklung."[2] This can perhaps better be translated simply as development.[3] Words for evolution in the context of evolutionary theory[4]:theory of evolution Abstammungslehre {f} Evolutionstheorie {f} Deszendenztheorie {f} Abstammungstheorie {f}Darwin's theory of evolution Darwin'sche Evolutionstheorie {f} die darwinsche Evolutionstheorie {f} Evolutionsforscher {m} evolution scientist Genomevolution {f} genome evolutionPflanzenevolution {f} plant evolutionNone of these words, "Evolution", "Abstammungslehre", "Evolutionstheorie", "Deszendenztheorie", "Abstammungstheorie" appear in Mein Kampf.Another quote my opponent presents is"The first step which visibly brought mankind away from the animal world was that which led to the first invention"This idea is not in Darwin's book. It would not be the view of evolutionary theory that inventions separate man from other animals. Darwin's theory is a biological theory. Hitler is plainly talking about cultural "evolution" (development) not biological evolution by natural selection.Another quote from Mein Kampf my opponent thinks is Darwinian is"Originally they sprung from the brain of an individual"What is it that sprung from the brain?"fundamental military principles which have now become the basis of all strategy in war"Clearly, Hitler is not talking about biological evolution.Hitler is talking in cultural and militaristic terms, in terms of a battle(Kampf) for life.Hitler takes the opposite view to Darwin. Darwin's theory requires that all plants and animals struggle for existence. Hitler thinks that an impulse for struggle arose at one time, that it spread amongst the higher organisms who have a subconscience, and that it spread via practice not reproduction. This has nothing to do with Darwinian principles. Hitler is not talking about sexual reproduction and the gaining of biological traits at all.He is referring to a cultural transmission of "the vital urge". Someone doing something until everybody picks it up. Hitler seems to have some conception of a vitality or will that inspires people. This is adapted from the ideas of the German philosopher Schopenhauer.[5]With his longest quote, my opponent is clutching at straws. The idea that certain men are best suited to some means of employment did not originate with Darwin, is not spoken of by Darwin, and has nothing to do with the theory of evolution. My opponent would have it that Darwin invented the concept of selection. This is patent nonsense.What my opponent has failed to do is show where in On the Origin of Species these ideas he attributes to Darwin occur. He has not done so, because he cannot do so. His linking of them with Darwin is a misunderstanding of what the theory of evolution is, and what was original about it. "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"Breeding is not part of the theory of evolution. Darwin uses domestic breeding to show that traits can be selected for, before explaining his theory, where nature selects traits.Racial viewsRace, as used by Darwin, refers to varieties, not to human races. It is a Victorian difference in language. Darwin simply points out that some variations that occur naturally survive in greater numbers. Origin of Species hardly refers to humans at all. Examples of "race" in On the Origin of Species include, "if we could succeed in naturalising, or were to cultivate, during many generations, the several races, for instance, of the cabbage, in very poor soil (in which case, however, some effect would have to be attributed to the direct action of the poor soil), that they would to a large extent, or even wholly, revert to the wild aboriginal stock."[6]"Several most experienced ornithologists consider our British red grouse as only a strongly-marked race of a Norwegian species"[7]and,"it is quite incredible that a fantail, identical with the existing breed, could be raised from any other species of pigeon, or even from the other well-established races of the domestic pigeon"[8]Con's case1. Hitler was a creationistMy opponent claims it is obvious that Hitler hated Christianity. This is unevidenced assertion, belied by the following quotes “I believe today that I am acting in the sense of the Almighty Creator. By warding off the Jews I am fighting for the Lord’s work.”"My feelings as a Christian points me to my Lord and Savior as afighter""I am now as before a Catholic and will always remain so""Today Christians … stand at the head of [this country]… I pledgethat I never will tie myself to parties who want to destroyChristianity .. We want to fill our culture again with the Christianspirit"[9]2. Other views of Hitler are incompatible with Darwin's theory."Hitler believed that he was helping natural selection by making it artificial, and removing the undesirables from the gene pool."Assertion not backed by any evidence."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."The end would be the same as what? Darwin says nothing about the Aryan race. 3. Hitler never refers to Darwin or evolution in Mein Kampf."As I showed in the opening of this round, he does indeed mention evolution as well as natural selection." He mentions development, and not evolution in the Darwinian sense, as I explained. He does not mention natural selection."Nature's will was in Mein Kampf."But not in On the Origin of Species at all.4. Darwin's works were rejected by Nazi authorities."The Nazi regime was full of evolutionists."My opponent has resorted to blatant assertion with no evidence to back it up at all. He forgets that Darwin's books were banned.5. "Social Darwinism" does not reflect, nor is it a development of, Charles Darwin's theory of evolution."eugenics, etc., can all be defended in light of Darwinism."My opponent asserts this, yet he has failed to show where in On the Origin of Species Darwin defends eugenics, or lends it any support at all."Early proponents of eugenics believed that, through selective breeding, the human species should direct its own evolution." The Satanic Bible mentions sin. However, a man influenced by the Satanic Bible is not influenced by the Bible.My opponent's case rests on superficial similarities, misunderstandings, and insinuation. He makes a largely negative case: X is not explicitly excluded from being about the theory of evolution, therefore it might be. I thank my opponent for the debate, and trust you will vote Con.[1] http://moourl.com...[2] Mein Kampf pp494 http://moourl.com...[3] http://en.dicios.com...[4] http://moourl.com...[5] http://moourl.com...[6] http://moourl.com...[7] http://www.talkorigins.org...[8] http://www.talkorigins.org...[9] http://moourl.com...