Darwin's Influence On Sir Francis Galton

When travelling from island to island on the Beagle Voyage, Darwin collected finches from each island he visited. When he got back, he examined the birds realizing there were small but noticeable differences on the birds. This meant that there were different types of finches on each of the island, also meaning that there is more than one species of finch. Because each island had slightly different settings, each bird that had lived there adapted over time to better equip themselves for living on that particular island. The changes in the finches were subtle, just like how the islands were only slightly different. Different species of finches were born of the original ancestor and as more time passed and they grew more different. They grew different in terms of things like their beaks and their feathers. This example led Darwin to his idea of evolution because he saw that clearly there was no other explanation for his findings. This also proved his theory of natural selection because the original finch’s traits were weaned out and those original finches evolved into species that could survive the best in the climates of the different islands. Because he now believed that the finches had one common ancestor, he came to the conclusion that all life forms on earth have one common

The documentary, “Darwin’s Dangerous Idea” tells the story of Charles Darwin’s conception of his theory of natural selection, and how it explains the evolutionary process and species adaptation. The story begins with a brief overview of his 5-year stint on the HMS Beagle as the ship's naturalist, during her South American voyage. The film shows how Mr. Darwin collected fossils and many species of animals and birds from many different regions especially the Galapagos Islands. It portrays Mr. Darwin’s return to England and his struggle between the mainstream religious beliefs and his personal beliefs of how different species came to be. Additionally, the documentary covers his presentation of fossils and ideas to the scientific community,

The Grant’s are capable of studying Darwin’s theory of natural selection in action, after gathering data from their colleagues, Peter Boag and Laurene Ratcliffe, who would be their watch on Daphne Island. Peter and Laurene witnessed an important event in natural selection, during a life or death situation with the finches. Though the two scientists were anxious for rain, but they did not receive a single drop that season. Rain would mean reproduction and fertility for the finches; however, the birds were faced with e horrible drought. Food became scarce and the finch population declined. Easy seeds to obtain on the ground were nearly gone. The seeds with tougher defenses, such as the caltrop, were usually untouched, since they were hard to crack. The finches with inadequate beaks did not

Although Charles Darwin is usually just looked at in the light of purely biology, his work that impacted other fields such as psychology or his work that lead to the rapid expansion of certain fields such as ethology, is often looked over. Darwin’s work impacted these fields both directly and indirectly at such a level of influence that some people believe that psychology should be looked at as pre- and post-Darwin. On the Origin of Species, while being primarily about biological phenomena and theories, was one of these works that impacted psychology indirectly. Other than giving a new perspective for psychologists to possess when contemplating different ideas, Darwin’s work on natural selection lead to the creation of evolutionary psychology.

Evolution is the process of biological change by which descendants come to differ from their ancestors. Natural Selection is when an individual with the best trait survive and breed in more population. Larger populations of organisms with the desired traits will then occur and organisms will evolve. The four principles of Natural Selection are variation, over production, adaptation, and descent with modification. Charles Darwin, an English naturalist and geologist saw two major trends within organisms which were variation and adaptation. Variations are differences in individuals’ physical traits compared to other individuals. In the Galapagos Islands Darwin noticed that finches had different beak sizes and shapes. Darwin then concluded that finches with thicker beaks lived in areas where nuts were the main food source and finches with smaller beaks tended to live in areas where insects were the main food source. Adaptation are features that allow an organism to better survive in their environment. There has been many adaptations in animals but one of the best has been living in groups because animals can then “help each other find food, defend against predators and care for their young” (animalpanet, n.d.). Overproduction is when organisms produce more offspring than the environment can support. Darwin stated that all animals over produce since offspring can reach reproduction age and have offspring of their own. For example, “even a slow breeder

Elana Kopelman Research Paper Topic: Sir Francis Galton Eugenics, meaning “well-born”, is the study of improving a human population through controlled mating and preventing the inheritance of undesirable traits. Sir Francis Galton, 1822-1911, was the father of eugenics, who believed in the possibility of a “utopia” in which humans only possessed the most advantageous traits, such as intelligence and beauty. In fact, Galton approved of his cousin, Charles Darwin’s, theory of survival of the fittest and applied it to the human race, concluding that “unfit’” humans — such as those with mental illnesses, physical ailments, or learning disabilities — would be outbred and not survive. Though they were faulty, Galton’s ideas had major influence

He finally observed that overtime these birds developed different physical characteristics to help them be able to survive and adapt to their surroundings. Darwin developed the “Natural Selection” theory that stated that plants and animals adapt to their surroundings and environments in order to survive. He also stated that older generations of these species would eventually die out, because they do not have the newer characteristics that needed to be developed in order to live.

In 1837, Charles Darwin was traveling aboard the H.M.S. Beagle in the Eastern Pacific when he stopped on the Galapagos Islands. There, Darwin found a wide array of animals including the Galápagos finches. The differences that he uncovered between these animals sparked Darwin’s interest; he had never before seen nor attempted to understand the similarities and differences inherent within these species. Examining each and uncovering the probable reasons for their distinctions, namely their differing needs for adaptation, Darwin constructed his theory of natural selection. From his observations on the Galapagos Islands, Darwin continued developing his research into eventually what became known as the Origin of Species, published in 1858. In this book, he asserted that these animals and differing species did not just appeared out of thin air, but rather had evolved from other species through the process of natural selection. Yet, his scientific findings were not accepted by the general public when first published, nor long after. Instead, they sparked a great uproar and criticism, since for most people accepted the theory of the Creation, the belief of divine creation, as the way people and species appeared on earth. His findings, so contrary to the then accepted norm of creation, were met with hostility and resentment by many who considered his work

Galton believed that a wide range of human characteristics were inherited, including mental, physical, and moral traits. This view was stimulated in part by Galton’s cousin, Charles Darwin, and his recent work in the field of evolution. Although Darwin didn’t play a direct role in eugenics, he had shown how man, despite his relative complexity as compared to plants and most animals, was still evolving. Because of this, Galton reasoned that humans could be controlled and manipulated so that the next generation would be of higher stock. He reasoned that man had been focusing too much on the evolution of lower level species for too long. So long in fact, “that human defectives [were] increasing at such an alarming rate that, unless some efficient methods [were] devised for keeping them in check, they [would] endanger the welfare of the entire race.” (Fasten, 283) In the mind of Galton it was essential to fix this problem. He concurred that “all creatures would agree that it was better to be healthy than sick, vigorous than weak, well-fitted than ill-fitted for their part in life; in short, that it was

Finches have become almost synonymous with the concept of natural selection, thanks to Charles Darwin. But, while he may have come up with the theory that the finches automatically choose the traits that will benefit their existence, he didn’t really provide any solid proof of this actually happening. Of course you can assume it does because of adaptation and evolution, but it would take more than a few weeks to really get concrete evidence of this happening. Fortunately, Rosemary and Peter Grant provide us with the evidence to support the theory of evolution and natural selection. They head back to the Galapagos Islands to pick up where Darwin left off and find out what really goes on in the process of the

In 1835 Charles Darwin, aboard the vessel HMS Beagle, first set foot on the Islands of the Galapagos Archipeligo setting off on what would become the inspiration for the most important innovation in biological sciences either before or since. That visit solidified for Darwin his notion of the evolution of life on Earth, and helped trigger his breakthrough regarding Natural Selection, ultimately culminating in his groundbreaking masterpiece On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. And although Darwin would never return to these Islands in his lifetime, the Galapagos still hold today a vast importance-both symbolic and scientific-to evolutionary biologists everywhere, and have undergone intense scrutiny and

There’s no way a new idea or a technique simply occurs if it’s destined to become something very important or sustainable in our society. Great ideas stem from hard work and trial and error. And in order to develop new, concise, and acceptable knowledge, the information has to reach the people who will use it. Novel ideas are met with contemporary resistance because ideas cause change, which requires effort, challenges social norms, and acts as a catalyst for even more change. There is a certain amount of comfort in familiarity, but excellent ideas create breakthroughs and will mostly end up improving a situation.

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.

Picture England in the Victorian era, living as a wealthy member of the upper class of society. This is how and when Francis Galton lived when he formulated his theories and coined the term nature vs. nurture. The Victorian era was a time of peace and prosperity for England and one of the highest points of England’s power not only domestically but across the entire British Empire. This was a time of industrialization for the country and its widespread influence resulted in great economic growth. This was also one of the largest booms in the population with the country more than doubling its population in 70 years and growing the middle class within the social hierarchy (Hoppen, 1998). The overall mood of the era was one of straight-laced, proper behavior. Literature and the fine arts suffered but scientific research and industrial achievements were praised and encouraged (Hoppen, 1998). This context of the time period is important to consider while looking into Galton’s research. Although some of his theories and work may be inaccurate by what we know today, for his time, his efforts are groundbreaking.

Either way, Galton influenced researchers to consider taking a scientific focus on their theories of intelligence. One of the researchers Galton influenced was James McKeen Cattell who brought Galton’s ideas to the United States and proposed a series of 50 psychophysical tests (1890). As a matter of fact, Cattell’s psychophysical tests could later not be validated by his student, Clark Wissler (1901). Even theorists that have focused their theories of intelligence on Galton’s views have recognized that Galton had very simplistic views (e.g., Hunt, Frost, Lunneborg, 1973). All things considered, Galton’s controversial views of intelligence (which has since been carried down to present day) have had a profound impact on the area of intelligence.