Preview

How Did Charles Darwin's Work Influence His Work

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1638 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Did Charles Darwin's Work Influence His Work
Charles Darwin’s Work and discoveries, a Turning Point in History

“In the long history of man kind (animal kind too), those who learn to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed” (Darwin). This is a quote from Charles Darwin that refers to many things; science, social darwinism, and imperialism. Charles Darwin was an important scientist and naturalist that lived in the 19th century in England. Charles Darwin’s books, primarily “The Origin of the Species”, and his discoveries created a turning point in modern science. Darwin’s impact on conventional thought including, social darwinism, imperialism and racism was dramatic. His work changed many people’s religious, scientific and social beliefs. Prior to Charles Darwin’s work and discoveries, including the voyage of the Beagle, there were different beliefs and other very influential scientists. Before his work, the common religious belief in Europe was the creation story from the book of Genesis. In the book of Genesis, it states that God created the world in 7 days. Creationism is the
…show more content…
However he was influenced by two key people to become a scientist; Charles Lyell and Thomas Malthus. Charles Lyell was a British lawyer, but was famous for his book “The principles of Geology”. His book popularized James Hutton’s concepts of uniformism. Uniformism is the idea that how the earth was formed and the way it changes now is the same way it did so in the past. Another scientist who was very influential to Charles Darwin was Thomas Malthus. Malthus is mainly known for his theories on population. The six editions of his essay on the principle of population shows that sooner or later population gets struck by disease. These two scientists were very influential to Charles Darwin and without these key influences, Charles Darwin would have probably become a doctor and his impacts would have never changed common

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Unit 1 KEY QUESTIONS

    • 2259 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Charles Lyell was a geologist and paleontologist who wrote Principles of Geography which greatly influenced Darwin. Lyell’s theories emphasized natural law. To Lyell it made sense that geological processes were much the same today as they were thousands of years prior. Forces such as, volcanic eruptions, erosion by rivers, wind and rain, and sedimentation in rivers and lakes. The term uniformitarianism, the assumption that forces from the past are similar to the ones we see today.…

    • 2259 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    H.G. Wells wrote directly of Darwinism in the book The Time Traveler. A great exploration of separation of social classes and the prime example of " the strongest will prosper." The Time Traveler has realized that social standings in the future, 802,701, is different from the past in only of an intellectual standing. " So in the end, you would have above ground the Havers;pursuing health, comfort and beauty, and below ground the Have nots; the workers, getting continually adapted to their labor." ( Line 1) The Time Traveler realizes this because of his own social standing in his society. The Time Traveler does not cringe about his observation, but accepts these finding with a subtle acknowledgement. "In the end, if the balance was held permanent,…

    • 291 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Darwin started by studying with proclaimed geologists learning how to map lands and animals and develop theories. Darwin’s observations in the lands of wales and throughout various places in South America lead to his theories of coral reefs and formation of volcanic islands securing his position in the scientific community. After securing his position in the scientific community Darwin began to spread his theories of evolution.…

    • 1589 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Darwinism was a concept created by Charles Darwin, who found how plant, animal, and human species developed. This concept then developed another idea, Social Darwinism, “The false application of Darwin’s theory of biological evolution to the political, social, and economic realms, often used to justify the superior dominant countries, groups, or races.” Herbert Spencer, an English professor, thought this idea to be very influential and grew on him. Although Darwin had come up with the theory, Spencer phrased social Darwinism as “survival of the fittest,” where only those who were the strongest and most fit and efficient would survive. Darwin even impacted Marx’s Marxist Theory with his book The Origin of Species. Darwin’s idea of natural selection and survival of the fittest has shown in being one of the most effective strategies of evolution based on previous finding. Individuals all over the world are continuing to positively adapt to their environment and is continuing to influence the…

    • 869 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the essay “Darwin’s Middle Road”, Stephen Jay Gould describes Darwin’s process on his theory of natural selection. Gould describes the process of scientific creativity with inductivism and eurekaism. Darwin’s thought process also incorporates Frye’s three levels of the human mind. Darwin begins his thought process aboard the Beagle. During these five years, Darwin makes observations of the bones of giant South American fossil mammals. He focuses on the turtles and finches of the Galapagos. According to Gould he mentions “The first ̶ inductivism ̶ held that great scientists are primarily great observers and patient accumulators of information. For new and significant theory, the inductivists claimed, can only arise from a firm foundation of facts.” (Gould 1018). Darwin uses his consciousness and awareness; to identify and give qualities to the turtles and finches. Darwin builds his foundation of facts. Darwin transitions his thinking process to social participation. Darwin takes his facts on finches and brings them into human shape. Darwin begins researching and studying the nature of the finches. Darwin uses social participation to contribute to science. Inductivism corresponds to the first and second levels of the human mind. In addition, Darwin uses the third level of the human mind to create his theory. Darwin’s theory is survival of the fittest through natural selection. Darwin experiences…

    • 722 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Response To Emerson

    • 1812 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Listed as one of those with a "mind of uncommon activity and power,’’ James Hutton (1726-1797) was a Scottish chemist, geologist, and naturalist who originated the principle of uniformitarianism, which explains geological processes over time.…

    • 1812 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Many individuals recognize Charles Darwin as the beginner of this way of thinking. Darwin’s theory is that populations are in competition with each other for natural resources; in this struggle to survive, the environment makes a selection known as “natural selection.” In this process, Darwin describes how the weakest individuals, because of their natural characteristic, do not survive. Only the individuals who are strong and adaptable survive and transmit the genes to the offspring. Common sense seems to dictate that his idea justifies, directly or indirectly, acts of selfishness, racism, and violence.…

    • 1122 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The well known ecologist Charles Darwin exhibited the hypothesis of natural selection. He went on numerous trips to the wildlife, taking after his interest of the nature and the change that happens in the nature. After examining different kinds of living organisms, he clarified Natural Selection as "preservation of favorable variations and the rejecting of injurious variations."(900). Darwin utilized relations and demonstrations to show that distinctive changes happened in the same specie, which assisted them with adapting to their environment.…

    • 714 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    - Alfred Wallace: best known for independently proposing a theory of evolution due to natural selection. (This prompted Charles Darwin to publish his theory)…

    • 594 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    By definition, natural selection theory is whereby the organisms that have adapted well to the environment can survive even during the times of scarcity and have offspring. The theory involves both competition and cooperation. According to Darwin, competition and cooperation are related to power such that, in life competition will always be there where people and animals must strive for the scarce resources (Darwin 29). During the competition, the strong ones will win and take the power. Cooperation is a key factor during competition. Only those who tend to cooperate with their members have high chances of winning. Also, the interrelationship between cooperation and competition can give rise to power where those who…

    • 754 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Charles Darwin in 1859 published On the Origin of Species, he explained his theory of evolution. He presented evidence that would further explained his reasoning. The first Darwin looked at the fossils and looked at the geological layers. Next compared the structural of the human hand, bird wing, and a cat paw and hinted that we come from common ancestors. His finally observation was the dramatic change in domestic plants and animals by selective breeding. Darwin believed that species started to change their structure, psychology, and behavior that would help with…

    • 173 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    We will first start with the theory of evolution. Charles Robert Darwin, was born on the 12th of February 1809, and is the founder of evolutionary theory. He initially planned to follow a medical career, and studied medicine, but later switched to divinity. In 1831, he joined a five year scientific expedition on the survey ship, HMS beagle. While on the ship, Darwin read Lyell’s ‘Principles of Geology’ which suggested that the fossils found in rocks were actually evidence of animals that had lived many thousands or millions of years ago. But, Lyell’s argument was instated and reinforced in Darwin’s own mind when the ship reached the Galapagos Island. Here he observed the rich variety of animal life and this is where the inspiration for his theory came. Darwin noticed that each island supported its own form of finch; they were closely related between islands but had key differences. On Darwin’s return, he…

    • 873 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Darwin’s theory of evolution is based on the theory of natural selection. Natural selection is the the process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. This theory is now widely believed by many people throughout the world. Charles Darwin’s theory includes the idea that fossils of extinct animals turn up where similar animals live today. Darwin came up with this theory when he discovered fossils of animals that were very similar to the animals that were living today. Darwin also observed that the Galapagos tortoise’s had different shapes of their shells depending on which island they came from. Darwin believed that these tortoises were adapting to their environment by changing their shell…

    • 235 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Darwin believed that a natural process of animals and species occurred through evolution, which in turn started a natural selection of people who were more superior to others. Following Charles Darwin’s philosophies, Herbert Spencer’s theories and interest in natural and social sciences led him to believe that the natural process of developing a superior race started through evolution. Herbert Spencer believed that in order for society to become developed, it would require a superior race of human intelligence to do it. His ideals and scientific works showed Americans that free competition was the most beneficial path to economic progress and survival. Through superior economic progress, he made popular the phrase, “survival of the fittest.” Only the superior race will succeed and survive.…

    • 554 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Charles Darwin provided a mechanism for the theory of Biological Evolution, which is what separates him from previous researchers. Before Darwin’s theory of biological evolution by natural selection, the ancient Greeks were the first to attempt to understand our place in the natural world. Following the Greeks, was Aristotle, he believed that each living form had attributes that could not be altered, therefore, fitting in an ordered rank ladder, and that human beings were at the top of the ladder. Before the 19th century most naturalist believed that there was a single creation event—influenced by the church’s beliefs (Stanford 17). Even then, naturalists continued to develop classifications for animals and plants. John Ray was the first to…

    • 547 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays