Page 176 - The Social Weapon: Darwinism
P. 176

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                  also defended this twisted viewpoint.
                       University of Berlin's Professor

                  Haeckel, for instance, a known propo-
                  nent of Darwinism, praised the ancient
                  Greek militaristic state of Sparta, claim-
                  ing that the Spartans being a chosen
                  people explained why they were so suc-
                  cessful and superior to others. He said
                  that by killing all but the "perfectly
                  healthy and strong children" the
                  Spartans were "continually in excellent
                  strength and vigor." 101  Haeckel regarded
                  these savage practices as justified.
                  According to him, Germany should
                  have followed this Spartan custom too,
                  because infanticide of the deformed and
                  sickly children was "a practice of advan-
                  tage to both the infants destroyed and to

                  the community." These unconscionable
                  recommendations of Haeckel's are
                  important in revealing the logical
                  framework represented by the unscien-




                       Hitler and the Nazis' obsession with
                       establishing a master race led to the
                       deaths of millions of innocents, with
                       millions more suffering inhuman
                       treatment for years.











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