Ideas of Darwinism in the theory of Hans J. Morgenthau

This article investigates the presence and role of Darwinian ideas in the classical realism of Hans J. Morgenthau. While it is not uncommon for classical realists to ground their theories in a biologically-informed view of human nature, the specific influence of Darwinian scientific and social Darwinist thought remains underexplored. This article argues that key components of Morgenthau's theory - particularly his views on human nature, power, and survival - bear conceptual affinities with Darwinian ideas and principles. The article does not claim that Morgenthau's theory is wholly derived from Darwinism, nor that all classical realists share these intellectual roots. Instead, it demonstrates how principles and ideas derived from Darwinism specifically enforce Morgenthau's theory and why this matters for our understanding of classical realism.