In 1859 Charles Darwin published his work The Origin of Species, which would cause a revolution in the understanding of biology. Since the beginning, this scientific theory has given rise to multiple misinterpretations and misappropriations by different types of theorists and especially social scientists. To explain these misunderstandings, we must first highlight the main differences between Darwinism and other forms of evolutionary theories, in particular: Lamarckism. The analysis will highlight some misunderstandings made during the 19th century, when Charles Darwin was still alive. This will provide an opportunity to examine some of Darwin's own reactions to these early defenders of Darwinism. Finally, the article will review some of the main branches of so-called Social Darwinism during the 20th century (especially in Europe), which were still largely based on the same mistakes made by 19th century theorists. Both Lamark and Darwin agreed that different life forms evolved over time and were in a constant process of change. Therefore, neither believed that species remained “fixed” or unchanged. They also coincided in the idea that the evolution of species involved a process that went from a few simple organisms to multiple and increasingly complex organisms (Ruse, 3). Lamarck published a book in 1801 entitled Theory of the Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics. In this book he presented his idea about evolution: whenever an organism makes changes during its life to adapt to the environment, those changes will be passed on to its offspring. The desires or needs of the organism caused the changes to occur, according to...... middle of paper ......tedBeck, Naomi. “The origin and political thought”. In the Cambridge Companion to the “Origin of the Species”. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2009. Well done, Jane. “Dangerous Darwinism”. In Public Understanding of Science, 2002.McLean, Iain. The Oxford Concise Dictionary of Politics. University of Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2009.Marchant, PD “Social Darwinism”. Melbourne, Australian Journal of Politics and History, 1957. Munro, Neil. “Political Darwinism”. National newspaper. 2007.Rubin, Paolo. Darwinian politics. London, Rutgers University Press. 2002. Ruse, Michael. “The Origin of the Origin,” in The Cambridge Companion to the “Origin of the Species.” Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2009.Ruse, Michael and Richards, Robert. The Cambridge Companion to the Origin of Species. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2009.