Darwin and S.I Hayakawa

Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest is both similar and different to the beliefs of Hayakawa in his book Language in thought and action. While taking opposing views on issues such as categorizing humans and animals as one, as well as working together as a strategy to survival, they both agree that Humans and animals must possess similar qualities to indeed survive in the world. Darwin would most likely ask Hayakawa the following questions…

Do human’s change/evolve over time differently to animals, in reaction to the change in their surroundings?

 How are animals comparatively different to humans in their approach to the change in environment?

 Do humans need survival qualities that animals possess in order to survive?

Darwin would have disagreed with Hayakawa on the point of putting humans and animals in the same category. Hayakawa believed humans were more advanced compared to animals as humans are “the talking animals” (Hayakawa 5), splitting them apart from the theory of natural selection. Darwin in an opposing view to Hayakawa, believed that animals and men are similar. Gaarder, in her book Sophie’s World, explains that Darwin paid attention to “the great similarities between humans and animals” (Gaarder 412). Darwin also placed humans and animals in the same classification when referencing the theory artificial selection, believing that humans and animals both applied to the rule of the “survival of the fittest”.  

Darwin would also frown upon Hayakawa’s view of man working together in Language in thought and action. Darwin in Sophie’s World gives the impression that every man is alone and has to survive by himself. Gaarder displays Darwin’s belief that “breeders have made an artificial selection…no two individuals are exactly alike” (Gaarder 408), the selection has led to “Natural selection in the struggle for survival” (Gaarder 411). Darwin therefore presents the view that natural selection has resulted in humans working for personal gain and survival in opposition of Hayakawa’s claim that “Cooperation within a species (and sometimes with other species) is essential to the survival of most living creatures” (Hayakawa 5). Hayakawa believes that cooperation is necessary for survival because other people’s nervous systems may pick up on a future problem that ours did not.

Darwin and Hayakawa would agree however, on the fact that humans and animals both share qualities needed in order to survive. Darwin explains how natural selection leaves only the ones who have the qualities needed to survive. Similarly Hayakawa believes as well as cooperation, it is important that humans have “those qualities useful in fighting the environment and other species… and those qualities (such as aggressiveness) that are useful in fighting other people” (Hayakawa 5). Both Darwin and Hayakawa therefore believe humans and animals need to posses qualities such as aggression, in order to successfully survive.

In conclusion, both Hayakawa and Darwin’s view on how man must survive in the world share similarities and differences. Differences on their opinions about categorizing humans and animals as one, as well as man working together, whereas they both agreed on the conclusion that all species need some qualities in order to survive.

Works cited:

Hayakawa, S. I. Language in Thought and Action. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1964. Print.

Gaarder, Jostein. Sophie's World: A Novel about the History of Philosophy. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1994. Print.