The Occupy Movement: Analysis

Herbert Spencer was an English philosopher and sociologist in the Victorian era. Spencer is a structural- functionalism theorist. He developed an extensive conception of evolution as the liberal development of the physical world, biological organisms, the human mind, and human culture and societies.

By “survival of the fittest,” Carnegie means that the most capable people will succeed and prosper, while the others fail. He is promoting the idea of Social Darwinism, the belief that wealth is a measure of one’s inherent value and those who had it were the “most fit.”

Herbert Spencer was one of the lead role models and inspirations in the creation of Darwinism. Born April 27th 1820, Spencer spent his childhood living in Derby, Great Britain. His infantile life was depressing, growing up with his uncles who tortured him behind the curtains for 7 years straight. Despite this, the leader philosopher went on to develop ideas and challenged the ideology behind imperialism. Being the creator of the phrase, “survival of the fittest” Herbert weaved his way into Darwin’s work being credited for everything. This increased his fame and popularity receiving many followers of his theories. Spencer criticized man theories and tactics used by the government putting holt to imperialism.

After the publishing of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, many of his followers began to apply the same idea of natural selection to society, believing that the “survival of the fittest” applied to social problems as well nature. It was a common ideology of the time that those who were better off, like wealthy citizens and corporations, were ….because they were better adapted to the environment. Therefore, the wealthy and the corporations were the fittest, and deserved wealth and power because they were adapted to survive. On the other hand, if someone was poor, it was

The Occupy Wall Street movement began in fall of 2011 in response to a call to arms originating from a digital publication by the name of Adbusters, wherein Americans were urged to “flood into lower Manhattan, set up tents, kitchens, peaceful barricades and occupy Wall Street for a few months” (Adbusters) in order to make themselves heard in what they perceived as their fight against injustice. The movement kicked off in Zuccotti Park (soon dubbed ‘Liberty Square’) in New York, spurring sympathy protests across the nation. The physical occupation of Zuccotti Park came to an end in mid-November of 2011 when the protestors were forcibly evicted by the New York police. Many assumed that this would be the end of the movement,

The Darwin’s theory of “natural selection rather than of evolution” has a great influence on the society back and now. The most destructive significant impact thinking about natural selection is probably the ideas of Social Darwinian. It is the idea survival of fittest and selection on a national level. Here is an example easily explaining the natural conflict between two nations. “Just a struggle for existence in the plant and the animal world always centers about a matter of space, so the conflicts of nations are in great part only struggles for territory.”(Stoddart 694) Stoddart is applying Darwin’s theory to human society where territory can be understood as land, opportunity, and natural resources.

Another example of social movements making the government more responsive comes from the American civil rights movement. A political party is not a social movement, but often moment leaders seek the support of party leaders to increase the opportunity — the likelihood of having a successful

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection had noticeable effects on society at the time. His theory spawned a new branch of science and much debate amongst scientists of the time over the selection process in evolution. His theories were transferred to society, leading to the rise of social Darwinism and its role in maintaining supremacy amongst the rich in changing times. It also led to religious upheaval, rise of atheism and the understanding that man is not the center of the universe. Overall, Darwin did much to affect society in the late 19th century, and his impact remains noticeable

There has been a massive change in the different ways that the public police are reacting to protests across North America (Gillham,Edwards,Noakes,2011). During the Occupy Wall Street Movement , it becomes evident that police have taken new measures in securing the streets and preventing protesters from taking things out of line (Gillham,Edwards,Noakes,2011). A few of the strategics used by police were directing the protestors, to a free speech zone (Gillham,Edwards,Noakes,2011). An area where it be simple for police to maintain and control the risk , many of the protestors bring forward (Gillham,Edwards,Noakes,2011). They also barricaded the park and sidewalks and put into force an advanced surveillance system , which consisted of a

Survival of the fittest is a famous phrase of herbert spencer which describes the idea that there is competition to survive and reproduce. Charles Darwin first used Spencer's new phrase "survival of the fittest" as a synonym for "Natural selection". It's a metaphor just like other phrases such as struggle for existence and natural selection. But what did Darwin really mean when he popularized the "survival of the fittest" phrase? What he did not say is, perhaps, revealing. He did not say "survival of the smartest" nor "survival of the biggest." No, instead he said, "survival of the fittest." Others might tend to interpret Darwin's "fittest" as physical fitness, or physical superiority, in other words, to

(Brown 1) The political system was a source of frustration, and that the system’s economic profit was endowed via creating and perpetuating social crisis provided reason as to why people set about addressing discontent with the emergence of Occupy.(King 4) In addition, and in relation to these aforementioned factors, neoliberalization cannot be stressed enough in the emergence of the Occupy movement. As neoliberalization exists as a platform of private property rights, free markets and free trade it also exists to exploit the labor of others, and dispossess them of their assets. This makes it easy to see that the people are pitted against the “Party of Wall Street,” and Wall Street is benefiting at the cost of the people.(Harvey 311) The neoliberal policies that that are in place and in motion in the same way that they set out about to individualize the person sets about the reasons for democratic uprising as relevantly seen with the emergence of the Occupy Movement. (Butler 349)

Allen Schmertzler made this artwork entitled Occupy Politics. It talks about how the politics work. It defines the differences between rich and less fortunate. Wherein people who are in high class and serves as a leader can manipulate a certain society. He can be able to do what kind of society he wants to put in. We can fully realize that there is an inequality we live in. His artwork tells us the reality, the truth and the justice.

Herbert Spencer became popular and recognized for Darwinism which Herbert believed that everything in the universe is evolutionary which included human character and social institutions that went along with the principles of survival of the fittest. A phase which was turned in social Darwinism which applied the theory of evolution to human nature and society which America embraced. Spencer’s idea was to ensure that only the best would survive so that society would be able to achieve to be perfect and small business would not be supported.

Social philosophy in the latter part of the 19th century in the United States was dominated by Spencer. His ideas of laissez-faire and the survival of the fittest by natural selection fitted very well into an age of rapid expansion and ruthless business competition. Spencer provided businessmen with the reassuring notion that what they were doing was not just ruthless self-interest but was a natural law operating in nature and human society. Not only was competition in harmony with nature, but it was also in the interest of the general welfare and progress. Social Darwinism, or

     The words “survival of the fittest” should be credited to Spencer, who was an important