Socialism and Modern Science (Darwin, Spencer, Marx)

Enrico Ferri argues that socialism follows from the scientific ideas of Darwin and Herbert Spencer, with Karl Marx completing their social implications. His political treatise examines claims that individual differences, competition and the survival of the fittest make socialism impossible. Ferri answers these objections by connecting evolutionary theory with collective ownership, social justice and the conditions of working life.

The discussion moves from scientific controversy to practical questions about wages, machinery and security. Ferri compares the position of modern wage workers with earlier forms of labour and defends the demand for an eight-hour working day. Chapters on evolution and sociology, together with replies to critics in the appendices, show how he builds his case. For readers interested in the history of political ideas, the book offers a detailed example of an author using biological theories to argue for economic change.