Darwin World View

Katie Pichelli
February 4, 2011
“A Certain Grandeur” Darwin argues that it is an optimistic and beautiful to view the world from an evolutionary perspective: “from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being evolved.” He contends that this view of the world is magnificent because when needed species can adapt and survive in their environment. Even though Darwin views evolution as amazing and beautiful it is morally and theologically offense for some people. One of these people is William Paley, a major supporter of Natural Theology. Because these people do not want to believe that there is no God they try to create coexistence between religion and science. Although Darwin accepts and observes the theory of evolution to be astonishing and of an aesthetic outlook, there are also many people who reject this theory and believe that everything on the earth came from a divine creator.
Darwin’s theory of evolution is also difficult for people to accept because the traditional way of thinking is that God created everything. Thinking through an evolutionary perspective eliminates the necessity and the possibility of a God. The idea of religion comforts people and helps them to cope with the idea of death and gives hope that there is something of a paradise to look forward. Because of this Darwin’s idea of natural selection offends many people’s moral and theological senses. Many people believe that humans are made through the image of God and are therefore superior beings than to have evolved from an ape. It attacks the scripture of these people because it is said that God created man and placed him on the earth. Moreover religious people believe that God has a plan for everyone and Darwin’s theories raises people’s anxiety and causes them to start to question the purpose of life. Darwin’s blatant attack of the scripture and of God fabricates people’s disagreement towards Darwin’s theories and makes it difficult for people to believe his argument for evolution. Although it may seem to Darwin that evolution is the proper way to look at the world, this is not the case for everyone. Because most people, at the time, believed that God created the earth, along with its inhabitants there were many people rejected Darwin’s theory. One major objecting view of evolution is that of Natural Theology. Natural Theology states that tradition always says that the existence of God can be applied to reason and observation of the natural world. This view allows for religion and science to coexist and attempts to prove the existence of God through logic and science, and it is almost effortless for people to tolerate. William Paley is one major supporter of Natural Theology. Paley proposes the argument from design, that although there is proof of evolution there must also have been an intelligent creator to design the organisms of the earth. This theory allows for the tradition that God does exist to continue alongside reason and observations of the natural world. Natural Theology also allows for science to continue to progress with logic and rationality without offending religion. Because Natural Theology allocates religion and science to coexist, it is less problematic for people to believe than Darwin’s theory of evolution. Darwin argues that it is superb to view the world through an evolutionary perspective, for which his argument is extremely strong. By viewing the world through an evolutionary perspective, it allows one to see the beauty in nature and all of the earth’s beings. It also allows one to appreciate the earth and its surroundings because it can be realized that the earth created every being, including humans. Darwin’s theory proposes that if a species needs to change in order to survive it can adapt to its environment. This theory also suggests survival of the fittest, which seems to be human nature. By viewing the world with an evolutionary perspective one can see survival of the fittest occurring. Darwin’s view is also an optimistic one, because it shows that although the human form seems to be almost perfect, it will most likely evolve into something even greater. Darwin suggests that species and there environments are continuously changing for the better. Darwin’s “grandeur” allows for the earth to be thought of in an awe and wonder, and allows the beauty of nature to be clearly seen. Darwin’s theory of evolution seems to have a beautiful and astounding aspect to viewing the world though this perspective. Although this may be the case for some people, there are also people who reject the theory because it is scary and breaks tradition for them. Without religion, people lose hope, panic, and question the purpose of life. Their believes allow them to have strength and optimism, causing the rejection of Darwin’s theories. Even with what seems to be evidence to support evolution such as Lucy, the bones of what is believed to be the first human that lived over three-million years ago, many people still do not believe in Darwin’s discoveries. Darwin’s theory is still being rejected because it is easier for people to believe in what they know, the Bible, or Natural Theology rather than to accept something that is different and links humans to animals.