Charles Darwin's Theory Of Natural Selection

The Theory of Natural Selection was first introduced by Charles Darwin. While on a voyage to the Galapagos Darwin observed how animals possess certain traits that allowed them “the best chance of survival”. The basic concept of natural selection is that the animals with traits considered advantageous are able to reproduce more offspring then animals that do not have these traits. The precepts of this theory are manifested by observing animals and their traits.
In his book The Origin of Species Darwin explained animals use their traits for the purpose of survival and mating. The Theory of Natural Selection accounts for why certain animal species produce more offspring (this is due to the offspring having the traits needed for survival”. Evidence for evolution can be seen in fossil records, gene flow, and genetic drift. An example of gene flow is when an animal from one herd mates with an animal from another herd, this results in moving genes to a new population. An example of genetic drift is an animal who comes close to extinction and the population has a lack of genetic variability.
Taxonomy is important since it allows for a standard organization of species.
Scientists all over the world use taxonomy to correctly identify which animal species they are discussing. In addition to classifying animal’s taxonomy can also be used to trace evolutionary behavior. This is done by using phylogenetic relationships to build evolutionary trees. In doing so you can see how species with specific traits gave rise to new species. Taxonomy can be show how species share similar traits and trace where that trait evolved from. Fossil evidence can give information of how an animal behaves. Aspects of behavior that we can learn from fossils includes morphological structure, predation and mating. This can help scientists learn more about extinct species and evolution has allowed new species to have the same
traits.

Behaviorism was founded by John B. Watson. Behaviorism focuses on analyzing how animals/humans respond to an event/stimulus. Behaviorism made psychology more science based since it relies on a strong understanding of natural science facts on the species being studied. A behaviorist would study an animal in a lab setting and would have control over the variables. An ethologist would study a larger amount of species in their natural environment and would focus more on the adaptations and evolutionary patterns. An ethologist would often encounter species-typical behavior which is behaves that are apparent in all species.

C. Llyod Morgan is known for the “law of parsimony”, which means the simplest explanation for behavior must be used. This can be used for mental events since we can explain observable characteristics such as emotions when describing how an animal acts. The reason it is difficult to use C. Lloyd Morgan’s canon is because it is often very difficult to briefly explain mental events. This information gathered would be too complex and important to be made into simpler terms. Science has come a long way but we are still from being able to predict what a person/animal is thinking. The best we can do currently is hypothesize what a person/animal is thinking/feeling based on their observable characteristics.