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Theory of evolution - Charles Darwin’s ideas of natural selection
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When Darwin's work first appeared in the scientific journal in 1859, his theories created controversies and church officials consider evolution to be equivalent to atheism, thinking it replaces God or otherwise rules out God’s involvement in the development of life. But as we know that the evidence offered by Darwin was overwhelming and it soon became accepted and provided answers and explanations about variation and natural selection meaning that some individuals in a species are better at surviving than others and will have more children, over the years the theory has been refined as more evidence was found to collaborate Darwin's work, but the fundamental stays the same. The four fundamental pieces of evidence which are use to support
Charles Darwin, the Father of Evolution, was a British scientist who laid the foundations of the theory of evolution, transforming the thinking of the entire world about the living things around us (Charles Darwin (1809 – 1882)). After working on his theory for nearly 20 years, he published On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection in 1859. As soon as the book was released, the controversy began with each sides gaining followers until the climax on July 10, 1925. The idea that animals could “evolve” and change into new species, including humans, was one that challenged not only how people thought about the natural world, but challenged the story of the creation from the Bible itself. Even though Darwin himself never said that humans “evolved” from apes, everyone took it as a logical extension of his new theory. It went against the idea of argument for design that had unified theology and science for decades (Moran 5). This new threat to Christianity and the social culture of the time was one that would transform state laws on their educational curriculum.
The theory of Evolution was developed by Charles Darwin throughout his life and published in 1859 in a book called "The Origin of Species." In brief, it states that all living things on earth evolved over time and that natural selection is how they evolve. Natural selection is the process by which entire populations change in response to their environment. It works because those who are better adapted to the environment reproduce at a higher rate than those who are less suited for the environment (Biology, 2001). It is widely accepted that humans evolved from primates. That is why the trial had the nickname of "Monkey Trial". In contrast, the theory of Divine Creation states that the universe was created in seven days by God and that animals have not evolved since. One can see clear differences between these two theories.
There are a lot of misconceptions about Darwin's theory of evolution. One of the biggest is that he called the theory by that name. Albrecht von Haller used the word "evolution" in 1744 to mean "to unroll," so the word was around in Darwin's time, but Darwin never used it in the sense we use it today. It was added later by others, including Herbert Spencer, who is responsible for the theory we call Social Darwinism. This theory is misnamed; it is not based on Darwin's work, but Spencer's.
Darwin's theory of Evolution have been known by the world for many centuries. Even so, not all scientists supp...
Anyone with even a moderate background in science has heard of Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution. Since the publishing of his book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection in 1859, Darwin’s ideas have been debated by everyone from scientists to theologians to ordinary lay-people. Today, though there is still severe opposition, evolution is regarded as fact by most of the scientific community and Darwin’s book remains one of the most influential ever written.
Keith Henson a writer in evolutionary psychology once said that “Evolution acts slowly. Our psychological characteristics today are those that promoted reproductive success in the ancestral environment.” Evolution was first introduced by a naturalist by the name of Charles Darwin. Darwin had written an autobiography, at the age of 50, On the Origin of Species (1859) explaining how species evolve through time by natural selection; this theory became known as Darwinism. “Verlyn Klinkenborg, who writes editorials and vignettes on science and nature for the “New York Times”” (Muller 706) questions Darwin’s theory in one of his essays he wrote called Darwin at 200: The Ongoing Force of His Unconventional Idea. Both articles talk about the theory of Darwinism, but the authors’ use different writing techniques and were written in different time periods. Darwin himself writes to inform us on what the theory is, where as Klinkenborg goes on to explain why Darwinism is just a theory. Today, evolution is still a very controversial topic among many. It comes up in several topics that are discussed everyday such as in politics, religion and education.
There are many reasons why people should believe in Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. One of the more compelling reasons is the anatomical similarities between different species. Still another reason to accept Darwin’s Theory is the geographic distribution of species, meaning that certain plants and animals have evolved in specific ways to meet the needs of their isolated environments. Another reason to support the theory of evolution is the fossil record of change over time throughout earlier species. Lastly, scientists have recorded genetic changes in a certain species over many generations which support Darwin’s Theory.
Charles Darwin has had the greatest influence on the world by proving the evolution of living things. Charles Darwin had first noticed the similarities of plants and animals when he took a five-year cruise on the H.M.S. Beagle, which was available to him through a friend from school. During the cruise Charles Darwin started becoming interested with the similarities between the plants and animals that were similar on different islands with similar climates, so he decided to study them more closely.
Within a span of a little over 100 years, the world changed one hundred percent in the amount of knowledge it knew about heredity. Before the mid nineteenth century scientists and people knew relatively close to nothing about why offspring looked similar to the parents. By the end of the twentieth century, scientists and their peers not only knew why, but they could pin point how it happened. This had an effect on every person across the planet, and it all started with just one observation.
The famous philosopher began writing about his theories of natural selection. Darwinism has brought up very controversial topics throughout the years now; a theory of natural selection. The theory is Charles Darwin’s effort of
The Theory of Evolution is arguably one of the most influential and impactful ideas humankind has ever had. A passionate, amateur naturalist, by the name of Charles Darwin, theorized that the evolutionary process occurred through natural selection. This idea forms the basis for many modern day ideas and has drastically affected scientific and religious philosophies. Darwin, unlike any other scientist before him, sought to explain the design of organism and their contrivances with evidence. He proposes that the design of organisms as they exist in nature is not a miracle design imposed by God as a Supreme Engineer or by humans; rather, it is the result of a natural process of selection,
The theory, therefore can be proven today just as it has over the course of history. Through tested scientific research evolution cannot be overturned by any new observations or findings. If scientists notice any physical or behavioral changes in organisms it can be assumed that evolution is taking place. That is how researchers know that evolution is playing a role in the organisms lifespan. Such as a birds beak changing from island to island because of how it adapts and obtains food and nutrients. Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection in other words survival of the fittest, has shaped most scientists viewpoint on evolution as it is known today. The theory states that only the strongest survive. That is not necessarily true in all aspects. The organisms with the best traits passed down will usually survive is what the theory is trying to characterize. Although uncovered fossils have not proven that evolution is true, it can be proven through scientific research, physical or behavioral changes in organisms, and Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection. Scientific research has stated that evolution is taking place everyday throughout the world. If scientists notice any changes in an organisms usual migration path or even physical characteristics they can assume that it is evolving due to another outside force or organism. According to Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection evolution
Many of Darwin’s contemporaries in the nineteenth century disagreed with Darwin’s theory, at that time most people were religious and saw concepts, theories in one lens refusing to question God’s authority and what He had created. So according to their limited mindset the “nineteenth century critics of Darwin thought that he had misinterpreted the Galapagos finch data.” they said God had created the 13 different species as they are and that no evolution in beak shape has ever occurred.” O’Neil, D (2013:05) Therefore the Darwin’s theory was challenged at the time based on religious views.
Charles Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection poses we have acclimatised to our environment, passing on desirable characteristics to the next generation in order to survive, through tens and thousands of years there has been a gradual change in our evolution, a survival of the fittest. Of course, we can’t see this change but there is circumstantial evidence to back up this theory.
Evolution is the idea of a living organism adapting or mutating to gain beneficial physiological, psychological and structural features. The genetic makeup of all living things is constantly changing, due to DNA replication errors or outside factors, some of these changes impact drastically on the organism changing it for the better or worse. Typically when an organisms genetic code is changed for the better and it reproduces and outlives its unchanged counterparts this process is called evolution.