What belief holds that some people are more fit for success than others?

The belief that some people are more fit for success than others is most closely associated with Social Darwinism. This ideology applies Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection to social and economic issues, suggesting that individuals and groups achieve success based on inherent traits and abilities, much like species in nature. Social Darwinists argue that societal progress stems from the survival of the fittest, implying a hierarchy where those who are deemed "more fit" naturally rise to the top, while others fall behind. This idea was often used to justify social inequalities, economic disparities, and even imperialistic policies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Meritocracy, while it does emphasize the importance of talent and effort in achieving success, promotes the idea that all individuals have the opportunity to succeed based on their merits rather than innate superiority. Neoliberalism focuses on free markets and minimal government intervention, emphasizing economic freedom and individual entrepreneurship but does not inherently claim that some people are better suited for success. Philosophical Naturalism is a worldview that suggests everything arises from natural properties and causes, denying supernatural explanations, and does not directly deal with notions of social hierarchy or success.