William Graham Sumner

American sociologist and political economist

Firm believer in laissez-faire, individual liberty, and Social Darwinism

A Little Background

Grew up in Hartford, Connecticut, son of self-educated, working-class immigrant

Graduated from Yale, then became a minister

Returned to Yale as a professor of political and social sciences

Originated the concepts of ethnocentrism, folkways & mores

Social Darwinism

social existence is a competitive struggle among individuals possessing different natural capacities and traits those with better traits succeed, becoming wealthy

and powerful those lacking in inner discipline or intelligence sink

into poverty Government must not interfere to improve

conditions because this would only result in the preservation of bad traits while penalizing those who possess good traits

Sumner & Social Darwinism

Competition for property and social status resulted in a beneficial elimination of the ill adapted

Conditions that needed reform were the proof that society was functioning as it should

Opposed all reform proposals because they would impose excessive economic burdens on the middle class, the "forgotten man"

Feared the development of a welfare state

What the Social Classes Owe to Each Other

Sumner’s questions (p. 71)

Is it the duty & burden of one class to struggle to solve the problems of another class?

Does one class have the right to put demands on another class?

Does the State owe anything more to the people other than peace, order, & the protection of rights?

Main Points

1. He who does not contribute to society is a burden on society.

It is not one person’s fault that another person is poor. Therefore, it is not one person’s responsibility to help someone out of poverty.

Main Points

2. Each person’s main responsibility is to take care of himself; mind his own business.

We won’t have to worry about taking care of the rest of society. By taking care of our own responsibilities, society, as a result, will also be taken care of.

Main Points

3. The government does not make money. The only way to give money to one person is to tax another person.

In essence, for the government to finance many reforms, it will have to rob Peter to pay Paul.

“…equality necessitates a sacrifice of liberty.” (p. 71)

Main Points

4. The government’s only responsibility is to provide the right of opportunity for success, not the guarantee of success.

“They pertain to the conditions of the struggle for existence, not to any of the results of it; to the pursuit of happiness, not the possession of happiness.” (p. 75)

This Debate Has Yet to Be Settled

Issues still concerning us today:Unemployment benefitsHealthcareFEMA

How much is the government required to provide?

How much are we willing to pay for those provisions?