
Historian Richard Weikart’s new book, Darwinian Racism: How Darwinism Influenced Hitler, Nazism, and White Nationalism drops February 1 and is available for preorder.
From the publisher:
To hear some tell it, Adolf Hitler was a Christian creationist who rejected Darwinian evolution. Award-winning historian Richard Weikart shows otherwise. According to Weikart, Darwinian evolution crucially influenced Hitler and the Nazis, and the Nazis zealously propagated evolutionary theory during the Third Reich. Inspired by arguments from both Darwin and early Darwinists, the Nazis viewed the “Nordic race” as superior to other races and set about advancing human evolution by ridding the world of “inferior” races and individuals. As Weikart also shows, these ideas circulate today among white nationalists and neo-Nazis, who routinely use Darwinian theory in their propaganda to advance a racist agenda. Darwinian Racism is careful history. It is also a wake-up call.
You can register for a webinar with Weikart, with John West as host here.

Given the recent influx of social unrest, are you seeking some clarity on the historical roots of Western racism? Are you looking for a solid, evidence-based rebuttal to the naturalist argument that evolutionary theory has done no evil? Don’t pass up this spectacular opportunity to get answers from a reputable and well-researched scholar. Buy the book today so you can be prepared in time for the webinar.
Join us on Thursday, February 3rd, at 6 PM PT (9 PM ET)
You may also wish to read: Historian Richard Weikart On Acceptance Of Darwinian Evolution And Racism … In connection with the Scientific American op-ed claiming that “denying evolution” is a form of white supremacy, Weikart, whose specialty is racist politics, notes, among other things, “Now what happens if we examine the real white supremacists today? Are they creationists? I have done a good deal of research on this topic, and as it turns out, the vast majority of white supremacists today embrace Darwinian evolution and use it as evidence for their white supremacy.”
This sounds like one long argumentum ad consequentiam Even if it’s all true it doesn’t have any bearing on the soundness of the theory of evolution.
Seversky, when a theory indulges a priori ideological imposition, refuses to address the Newton rule that explanatory causal mechanisms be observed to produce the like effect before being extended to where we cannot observe [and, gross extrapolation does not count given complexity-functional specificity threshold], and actually undermines the credibility of minds required to think about itself, it is time to recognise ideology dressed up in a lab coat. It is time to see that the theory is failing. Then, when the ideology leads to undermining of morality, a key governor of our rational, responsible freedom and provides rhetorical ammunition for destructive agendas, it is time to point that out. For, it is a matter of well established analysis of politics that the end of ideology is power and to be a shield that gives legitimacy . . . too often, fallaciously . . . to power classes or aspirants. At the very least, we need to draw lessons from history on how even quite legitimate points such as the power of markets to promote prosperity can be twisted into destructive abuses such as robber baron capitalism. KF
PS, Hitler, indeed used Darwinist type thought in his book and policy.
That’s from My Struggle, itself a telling title given “struggle for existence.” It is unsurprising that his ideological heirs would use the same ideas. IIRC, a typical frame would run like, severe survival challenges in cold climates led to emergence of a superior Aryan race that has subsequently been diluted through ill advised interbreeding and needs to be restored to its pristine breed standard. Somehow, the Eskimos don’t get counted. Then of course, land held by inferiors needs to be taken to provide adequate living space. Mix in, life unworthy of life and sobering consequences follow.
The notion, Hitler was a Christian acting from Christian ethical principles, is of course, a blood libel.