Scholars debate the extent to which the various social Darwinist ideologies reflect Charles Darwin's own views on human social and economic issues. References to social Darwinism since have usually been pejorative. Some groups, including creationists such as William Jennings Bryan, argued social Darwinism is a logical consequence of Darwinism. Academics such as Steven Pinker have argued this is a fallacy of appeal to nature. While most scholars recognize historical links between the popularisation of Darwin's theory and forms of social Darwinism, they generally maintain that social Darwinism is not a necessary consequence of the principles of biological evolution.
sChOlArs dEBate ThE exteNt To whICH tHe VArious SOciAl daRwiNist ideologieS rEflEct ChaRleS darwin'S Own VIEWS on humaN soCiAL aNd ecOnomic issueS refeRences to soCiaL darwinIsm sIncE havE usually been pejOraTive somE GroUps iNcluDINg CreAtionIsts suCh As willIam jenniNGS bryan aRGuEd SoCial DArWinism iS A loGical cONSeqUENce of DarwinisM acaDEmICs such as stEVen Pinker havE argueD tHiS is a Fallacy Of ApPeAl tO natUre wHiLe mosT scHolars recOgnize historiCal liNKs betweeN the pOPularIsAtioN Of DarWin's THEory anD forms Of social DARwinism tHey GEneRally maInTain tHat soCiaL dARwIniSM is not A nECeSsARY consEquEnCe of tHe prinCiples oF bIOlOgIcal evOlUTion