The Influence Of Charles Darwin's Theory Of Natural Selection

Charles Darwin developed a theory of biological evolution that stated all species evolved from other species through natural selection. Herbert Spencer followed up with this theory by coining the phrase ‘survival of the fittest’ as a way to describe natural selection. This theory grew among scientist, but the Fundamentalist Christians opposed Darwinism because it goes against their core beliefs. Some used it as a way to justify classifying some people as second-rate and how they treated those people. Darwinism also played a major role in America’s immigration policy and furthermore is one of the main reason for the start of World War I.

Charles Darwin’s theory was natural selection, the survival of the fittest and the struggle for existence, which had a great impact on selective breeding. Organisms that were well-adapted to their environment had more tendency to survive and reproduce, providing their genetic characteristics for future generations whilst those less-adapted organisms were more likely to be decreased in amount. Charles Darwin’s theory also

Charles Darwin presented his theology of evolution which would change the way some people saw humanity. Darwin’s theory of evolution along with Social Darwinism and Eugenics made significant impact in our world. Darwinism classified people, initiated Social Darwinism and Eugenics, and made Fundamentalist Christians opposed such things. Darwinism suggested that every living thing developed through a natural process of evolution.

In 1859, Charles Darwin published his most famous work, On the Origin of the Species by Means of Natural Selection (Encarta 96). This book explained Darwin's theory of natural selection, a process not unlike separating the wheat from the chaff, where the least fit are eliminated, and only the fittest survive. An extension of this theory known as Social Darwinism emerged in the late 19th century. "Social Darwinists believed that people, like animals and plants, compete for survival and, by extension, success in life" (Encarta 96). Under this theory, the individuals who acquire the power and wealth are deemed the fittest, while those of lower economic and social levels are considered the least fit (Griffin

Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection, a scientific theory that supported the belief of evolution, was manipulated and applied to different areas of life, and thus it became the shaping force in European thought in the last half of the nineteenth century. Darwin, through observation of organisms, determined that a system of natural selection controlled the evolution of species. He found that the organisms that were most fit and assimilated to the environment would survive. They would also reproduce so that over time they would eventually dominate in numbers over the organisms with weaker characteristics. This new theory was radical and interesting to the scientific world but its effects reach far beyond this small institution of

For more than 150 years, a revolutionary idea has been spreading all over the world. It helped us discover our origins and revealed our place in nature. It led to the unification of once independent fields of scientific inquiry. And it is being used today to tackle some of the most pressing problems facing modern civilization. But its implications go far beyond science. It has shaped our culture, politics, philosophy and religion, and it has been used to justify war and genocide. That idea is Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection.

The writing of Charles Darwin came into the picture in the nineteenth century; the impact would affect religious view, scientific ideas, and social standpoints. Charles Darwin was a scientist, a naturalist, and a geologist. Darwin actually developed the evolutionary theory that helped explain biological change, which is known as, The Evolutionary Theory or Natural selection.

Darwin’s ideas were debated heavily and allowed people to question their already believed faiths. These made people think in new and different ways. With Darwin’s theory of evolution published, people were debating whether his ideas were sound, “The public debated Darwin’s ideas and the scientific community debated against each other” (Greenberger 39). Darwin’s new and innovative ideas influenced the public into questioning their beliefs and asking whether or not they were accurate. This showed the influence his work had on the public.

To begin, the Victorian era had a lot of changes occurred such as technological and industrial improvements. People during that era who were educated or wealthy enough to spend extra time or money, grew to the fascination of the discoveries of science (Victorian Era). The shift onto science became very impactful to religion and became popular by Charles Darwin’s study of Darwinism. Science created a spiritual division amongst the people because it was beginning to challenge long-held beliefs about the origins of life and human progress. “Darwin's evolutionary ideas, published in 1859 as On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, rocked the religious foundations of Western society and thinking, altered the process of scientific discovery, and in fact colored every aspect of human life” (Ray). The divide between religion and science created doubt in the Christian faith in believers. Tennyson’s response to this division was this: “Let knowledge grow from more to more, but more of reverence in us dwell; That mind and soul, according well, may make one music as before,” (In Memoriam introduction. 6). Darwin’s theory of evolution, while universally accepted in scientific circles, remains controversial, particularly in relation to religious faiths that emphasize a spontaneously created universe (Charles Darwin Develops). Tennyson wants humanity to hold on to their beliefs despite all

Charles Darwin broached the theory of natural selection in his book the Origin of Species, which has been considered the basis of evolutionary biology to this day. Natural selection is when populations of a species evolve over the course of many generations. Darwin believed that species were not created separately, but instead, species were derived from one another. In other words, the evolution of species creates many variations among creatures, and this is because all of those species came from a common ancestor, and characteristics changed to increase the species chance of survival.

In 1895 Charles Darwin published a book describing his theory of evolution, and his theory of the natural selection process. This theory caused much uproar in the religious community because Darwin’s theory went against the story of creation portrayed in the Holy Bible. His theory claimed that all life currently in place had evolved and adapted from a single organism in the beginning. Over time and by process of natural selection only the dominant species were left over while the other, less dominant species, went extinct. His theory, backed by scientific analysis, had dismissed the idea of a single deity creating all life on Earth. It is not like Darwin had a personal agenda against religion or anything,

“As a world view, Darwinism cannot of course be refuted, since Faith is, always has been, and always will be, stronger than facts. “ - Francis P. Yockey

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.

During the time when Charles Darwin was alive (1809-1882) most of the Western culture believed that the world was created by God and only several thousand years old. They believed that our world was always like it was then. So when Darwin wrote The Origin of Species it shook up both the cultural and scientific views of his time. His views that evolution occurs by natural selection was one of the most radial theories during his time, yet today is widely accepted as a fact among most of the world.

     Darwin’s Theories upset the church, one of the things that he proposed was that all living things may have descended from the same species. Today it is believed that life may have started as replicating molecules. Darwin introduced the idea that life is not just evolving but the earth is also changing. This went against creationism, the Bible says that god created the world and all the animals. It also separated man from the animals because god created man in