It Is Time To Course Correct “Survival of the Fittest”
It is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself.
This quote is popularly used in journalism, social media advertising, and even on posters in corporate offices to emphasise the importance of adapting to change. Darwin’s theory of evolution is simplified by modern society to a dog-eat-dog-world, which idealises unhealthy competition and deems it necessary within our societal framework. For example, Silicon Valley’s current retrospection phase, “move fast and break things”, has transformed the world – but at what cost? Executives with high six figure salaries are not able to afford housing in San Francisco, let alone someone earning an average ‘liveable’ wage. Another example is the rise of fast fashion companies and the popularity of mass consumption, which has led to unethical child labour practices in the Global South. The overwhelming production of these garments leads to low-quality pieces that end up in landfills. Is such a profit worth it at the expense of our planet and its inhabitants? These examples look at this philosophy at a higher level but if you filter these attitudes and ways of working down to the culture of an organisation and the path to success at any cost, they live there too.
While adapting to change is important, it’s essential to tread carefully along the thin line between futureproofing and a toxic work environment and culture. For too long, corporate environments have justified competitive and aggressive environments through this idea of “survival of the fittest”, defending ruthless tactics as a necessary tool to succeed in the workplace. But as we look more closely at the inequalities plaguing society today, particularly in working environments, this dog-eat-dog theory will only drive us further apart.
Who actually said this quote and why does it matter?
The idea of change and survival in the workplace is aligned with natural selection, whereby organisms are more likely to reproduce and survive if they are well-adapted to their environment. Natural selection is a part of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, coveted in the mid-10th century and is described in detail in his book On the Origin of Species. Darwin observed that those organisms who have traits better suited to their environment – adaptive traits – are more likely to survive in the face of adversity. They then can reproduce and pass these traits to their offspring, and eventually, this will create a strong, resilient population.
However, this quote that inspired the abridged media-based versions was never directly said by Charles Darwin. It can be traced back to a speech given by Leon C. Megginson, a professor of Management and Marketing at Louisiana State University, in 1963. The full quote is as follows:
Yes, change is the basic law of nature. But the changes wrought by the passage of time affect individuals and institutions in different ways. According to Darwin’s Origin of Species, it is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself. Applying this theoretical concept to us as individuals, we can state that the civilization that is able to survive is the one that is able to adapt to the changing physical, social, political, moral, and spiritual environment in which it finds itself.
Though within the context of Darwin’s theory, this quote cannot be correctly attributed to Charles Darwin. By word of mouth, it’s likely that Darwin, a revolutionary scientist who changed the course of science, is a familiar name for those listening. His stature as a renowned thinker may contribute to biases that have led to a misattribution.
Why does it matter that we correctly attribute the quote when trying to alter its interruption in a corporate context? Darwin’s theory is rooted in the idea of survival through natural selection. However, Megginson’s quote shares a view of what survival looks like. Survival isn’t necessarily at the detriment of another, in fact, his view on survival is rooted in the idea that it is about the environment. The climate crisis outside of war is the first truly universal threat to our species that we face. This is the environment we find ourselves in and our survival hinges on cooperation and our collective action to reverse the impact.
What does this quote mean today?
Business environments are constantly being tested. Over the past few years with COVID-19, a better understanding of the severity of climate change, the #Metoo and BlackLivesMatter movements, and the rapid advance of technology - companies have had to reevaluate everything from their corporate structures and operations to their company culture. This is an unprecedented time in history and it is forcing us to assess what survival actually means both on an individual, on a corporate level and on a human level. Does survival mean surviving at any cost, even if it is to the detriment of others? In the wake of recent mass layoffs, for businesses to write this – without adequate support – off as “adapting” is harsh, and dissolves any semblance of trust between employees and their employer. We understand that there can be extenuating circumstances but when there are enormous wealth disparities between the most senior executives and the most junior staff, it becomes debatable whether the senior execs with “reduced” income could help negate the need for redundancies. As the wealth gap continues to expand as a society, this “survival of the fittest” can not be the way forward for us as a society. Our survival should be based on what is suitable for the many rather than the few and the intersectionality between all our societal challenges and how they manifest in a corporate setting. How do we work together to save each other and the planet? To attract the right talent, futureproof a business and safeguard our planet, organisations have to think about survival in the context of collective action. Survival in our modern context is based on how we adapt to a changing world together. Building an empathetic world, one that considers the needs of others and one that thinks about our footprint on the planet. The changes will echo through generations, evolving to create a better and more sustainable world for those who come after us.
