Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection Essay

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* In 1498, he discovered the mainland and went down the coast of South America.

Natural selection is the process in which heritable traits that make it more likely for organisms to survive and successfully reproduce become more common in a population over successive generations. Each of us individuals is specifically shaped and formed by our own genetic pattern. We inherit this pattern half from are mother and half from are father. The cause of this is the proximate cause that led it’s phenotype to ultimate causes. Much of we know today about evolution derives from the late great pioneer, Charles Darwin. Charles Darwin was an english naturalist that even from an early age was very interested in outdoor pursuits. Early in his prep career his father tried sending him to the University of Edinburg to pursue his medical

Charles Darwin began his scientific breakthroughs and upcoming theories when he began an expedition trip to the Galapagos Islands of South America. While studying there, he discovered that each island had its own type of plant and animal species. Although these plants and animals were similar in appearance, they had other characteristics that made them differ from one another and seem to not appear as similar. Darwin questioned why these plants and animals were on these islands and why they are different in ways.

In a book he wrote titled On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. He goes on to talk about his study animals and plants and how he comes to the conclusion that all animals and plants had evolved over time to survive the different environments that they lived in. That we humans have also evolved over time from apes to what we are now. This was a huge scientific breakthrough; science’s doors were wide open and this scientific theory gave people an opportunity to think outside the box. Darwin allowed for scientific advances bring these new information to the light.

Charles Darwin being known as one of the most controversial scientist in history, developed a theory that has changed the way the whole world sees itself and will see itself for generations to come. Charles has had some amazing achievements in his life and many contributions to the scientific study of life. While Journeying around the world, he studied many different species which led him to develop the theory of evolution which is theorized by millions of people today. Just seeing someone like Charles Darwin change the worldview of millions of people can show how just a theory like evolution could change the world forever.

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution centres on the idea that species compete to survive, and favorable characteristics are passed on from one generation to the next. Darwin said that evolution took place by a process of natural selection or survival of the fittest. This meant that the animals and plants best suited to their surroundings survived and were able to pass on their genes to their offspring. The ones that weren't best suited died off and didn't get the chance to reproduce.

Charles Darwin is one of the most well known names in the United States for good reason. His theory of evolution through natural selection was not only revolutionary in the scientific world, but were also applied to society by some of his followers in this country. Some of these applications were beneficial to society while others simply allowed people to use his teachings for their own goals. While not apparent at first, Darwin does believe in a meaning in life similar to Tolstoy, and does not have the same pessimism as Freud. However, Darwin’s followers in America do not share the same view, and use his findings to establish Social Darwinism in their country. This backdrop allows for many racist norms in the name of science, and allows for the occurrence of cases like that of Henrietta Lacks.

Of all our modern minds, filled with many thoughts and great ideas, we have to wonder where all of these contemporary conclusions came from. What influences us to think on the topics we didn’t personally create? Charles Darwin is one key factor in our present-day notions.

Charles Darwin began the observing diversity of living creatures as well as fossils and extinct animals. Darwin noted that species varied according to the environments they inhabited. Darwin’s most famous book, On the Origin of Species, was published in 1859 and talked about a theory of evolution accounting for change within species and for the emergence of new species in purely naturalistic terms. Darwin noted in his autobiography that “It at once struck me that under these circumstances favorable variations would tend to be preserved, and unfavorable ones to be destroyed. The results of this would be for the formation of a new species. Here, then I had at last got a theory by which to work”.

Introducing this idea questioned the traditional view of origin of humans, that Man was created by the hand of God. Darwin however, declared, “The close similarity between man and the lower animals in embryonic development, as well as in innumerable points of structure and constitution… are facts which cannot be disputed (Darwin). Basing his theory on science brought Darwin to into the group of Enlightenment thinkers during this time period. He used verifiable scientific evidence to help construct his argument, helping to emphasize the importance of scientific discovery in this new age of Enlightenment philosophies. Although Darwin’s discoveries placed him within the contemporary Enlightenment views it also placed him against the original Enlightenment belief that humans were all equal. Suggesting that humans descended from animals instead of being created directly from God pinned Darwin against a majority of the Western population. Religion was a main pillar of many people’s lives and declaring that man was not a divine creation directly from God was a difficult concept for many people to handle. Introducing a variant on the ancestry of humans challenged the general population to question the traditional viewpoints and ideas known to Western society. Darwin’s discoveries among the study of biological sciences paved the way for progression to be made among scientists of that era as well as the

Charles Darwin set sail in 1831, and came back from his voyage in 1836. He Had endured sea sickness, miraculously survived a sickness that spread all over the ship, and kept his sanity while being cramped in a tight space while writing about his findings. The boat that he was riding sailed near the equator, where he took his first steps onto south America. There he found new species of animals, and plants that he had never seen before. All these new specimens amazed him, but all that Charles could think of, is how these animals came to be.

Darwin and Evolution are inextricably linked in the minds of most people who have had the opportunity to study them in basic biology. However, Darwin's theories of selection and survival of the fittest have been applied to moral, economic, political, and other cultural aspects of society. Dennett briefly touched on some of the political and social ramifications of Darwin's theories in the final chapter of Darwin's Dangerous Idea. Other philosophers and thinkers have also adapted Darwin's evolutionary ideas, in order to apply them in a societal or cultural context. One great example of this adaptation of the biological concept of evolution, is the appearance of Social Darwinism during the 19th century.

Charles Darwin was a man who shaped the way in which we think about evolution in modern times. He brought forth and described the theory of natural selection and survival of the fittest. To fully understand modern evolutionary thoughts it is necessary for one to completely understand the early theories of Charles Darwin. In this paper I will provide the reader with a complete background on Charles Darwin, describe his voyage on the HMS Beagle, and discuss his theory of natural selection.

Before the theory of evolution was a widespread theory in the world of science, Greek and Roman philosophers had their own theories about how life came to its present state and where it was going from there. One theory at the time was that all organisms are reflections of a “perfect” form and were coming closer to it all the time, although this was the less accepted theory even though it was closer to the truth proven hundreds of years after, while another was that all things were simply places on Earth in their present form, common to modern day Creationism. Even after this, Darwin was not the first to try explain evolution, he just provided convincing proof and published his ideas. The publishing of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution was