What does "survival of the fittest" mean, and where does the phrase come from?

Question

What does "survival of the fittest" mean, and where does the phrase come from?

Answer 1

Herbert Spencer coined the term.  It was also used by Darwin as a metaphor for natural selection.

Answer 2

Survival of the fittest is first attributed to herbert spencer in his book " The Principles of Biology."   The phrase refers to competition and survival or predominance.  The phrase is perhaps more well known when used by Charles Darwin in the theory of evolution and natural selection.  The phrase is not intended as a scientific phrase, but more so a metaphor.  

Answer 3

It means the fittest (or best) will win. They will survive. You could apply it to the t.v. show 'Survivor'. That is survival of the fittest, and the fittest wins. Hope it helps!

Answer 4

It actually is what's called a 'tautology', an exercise in circular reasoning.  

What defines 'fittest'? That the creature survived.

Why did it survive? Because it was the fittest.

Most scientific disciplines frown on tautological reasoning.