I don't think these are diametrically opposite views. Kropotkin laid emphasis on one aspect(mutualism) that leads to natural selection and ultimately evolution. Darwinism is applicable to all sorts of biological interactions, not just mutualism.
Facultative mutualism is the smartest way of interacting, indeed.
Symbiosis, ie. obligatory mutualism, example in algae and lichens, ensures harmonious evolution. But ,on the other hand, has negative aspects too. In symbiosis if one species gets extinct, other meets the same fate. Reason being fundamental dependency. That's a drawback of it. If it's facultative then species can still survive in absence of team work, ain't obligatory. Ain't obligatory, so ain't basic for survival. It just makes survival easier eg. through division of labour at various organisational levels, like in human society.
Other drawback of mututalism is deceit. Nectarless plants having attractive flowers use nectar dependent animals for pollination purposes, giving no rewards in return. Occurs in human societies too.
Also, not every species/individual is compatible with every other species/individual, so mutualism ain't possible everywhere. Humans ain't no exception.
Ideal condition, infinite resources, will to cooperate are needed to ensure stable mututalism. Realistically, other biological interactions, like competition, amensalism etc come into play more often to make sure weaker ones get eliminated from the gene pool. Two mutually dependent and co-operating entities get competitive at perceiving risk/ threat.
The competition can be between weaker species and nature, or weaker species and stronger species. When it's weaker v/s nature, former has to either adapt or extinct. Industrial melanism, for example. Extinction of melanic moths in pollution free areas and that of lighter ones in polluted zones. Whereas lighter ones in pollution free and melanic in polluted areas were naturally selected.
When it's weaker v/s stronger,
1. At community level - Weaker loses. Unless stronger is willing to co-operate/share/accommodate.
2. On large scale - Weaker may even extinct. Stronger, fit one, survives.
Nature's concern is inheritance of best genes and elimination of faulty ones from the pool, anyhow. So, mutualism or not, it's still survival of the fittest at the end of the day where definition of fitness is decided by situation, not the ones exposed to it.
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