Introduction

During the Industrial Revolution (late 1700s–1800s), huge changes in technology, work, and daily life caused people to rethink their beliefs about society, nature, and human behavior. Two important intellectual movements that grew during this time were Romanticism and Social Darwinism. Although they developed in the same era, they had very different ideas.

What Was Romanticism?

Romanticism was a movement in art, literature, and philosophy that reacted against the rapid industrialization of society. Many people felt that factories, pollution, and crowded cities were taking away beauty, creativity, and emotional depth from life. Romantic thinkers believed that nature, imagination, and strong emotions were essential to understanding the world. They valued individual experience over scientific logic.

What Was Social Darwinism?

Social Darwinism was a belief system based on applying Charles Darwin’s ideas about natural selection to human society. Social Darwinists argued that competition between people and groups was natural and necessary. They believed that the "strongest" people or nations would rise to the top, while the "weak" would fall behind. This idea was often used to justify inequality, racism, and powerful nations taking over weaker ones.

Comparing the Two Movements

Although both movements emerged during the Industrial Revolution, they had very different goals:

Romanticism focused on emotions, imagination, and the beauty of nature, reacting against the harshness of industrial life.

Social Darwinism used scientific ideas (often incorrectly) to argue that competition and inequality were natural parts of society.

Romanticism wanted to restore humanity and creativity in a rapidly changing world, while Social Darwinism tried to explain—and sometimes excuse—the power differences created by industrialization.