FREE ESSAY ON IMPACT OF ECONOMICS AND SCIENCE DURING THE 19TH CENTURY

IMPACT OF ECONOMICS AND SCIENCE DURING THE 19TH CENTURY

Steve Dohl 
3/13/01
Pre IB His/Geo
The impact of Economics and Science during the 19th Century
In the period from c. 1850-1914 economics and science were changing the world and
lifestyles. Adam Smith introduced the idea of capitalism and gave the idea that
mercantilism is bad ('lessie faire'). Smith said that self-interest and individual
efforts benefit society and contribute to the common good. Malthus and Ricardo had pretty
much the same idea. The both believed that the poor should help themselves and not rely
on the government. Malthus believed that if we helped the poor they would have more
babies and that would mean unavoidable poverty, famine, and misery. Bentham and Mill had
the exact opposite idea of Malthus and Ricardo. Bentham and Mill believed that the laws
and the government should help the poor and improve living conditions. 
Science also had an impact on the society and the way we live our lives. Darwin (c.1850)
developed the theory of Evolution and wrote two books about it, one of those books being
" Origin of Species". Social Darwinism is applied to people or groups of people. Mendel,
an Austrian munk, studied genetics through pea plants. He discovered that every offspring
inherits traits from their parents. Pavlov studied conditioned responses. He held a treat
in front of the dogs nose and rang a bell and it salivated. After awhile he just had to
ring the bell for the dog to salivate.