Darwinism: The Theory That Shook The World
...has by far
contributed the most to our modern science. From his theories on variation of
species to his explanation of natural selection Charles Darwin has shocked the
world by proving the world older than previously thought and creatures not
immutable. In this present day these theories are as common belief as a simple
mathematical equation such as two plus two equals four; but in the year eighteen
hundred and fifty nine Darwin not only risked his reputation with these far
fetched findings but also the risk of being excommunicated from the church.
Previous to Darwin the thought had been that the world itself was only a few
hundred years old and that all creatures were made by God in those seven days as
they lived exactly today (Campbell p 421). Aside from past resistance, Darwin
also comes under scrutiny still today as missing fossils which are to have been
the bridge between a two familiar species are not yet found (Hitching p 3).
Whatever the reason of belief or disbelief in Darwin's theories, he astounded
the scientific world as well as the public and was able to convince many in the
presence of a misguided past belief. This fact alone makes him one of the most
important people of science ever.
Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury-Shropshire, England on Feb 12,
1809 (GEA & RBi p 42). He was the fifth child in a wealthy English family with
a history of scientific achievement with his paternal grandfather Erasmus Darwin
who was a physician and a savant in the eighteenth century (GEA & RBi p 42). As
a young boy Darwin already showed signs of his love for nature. When he was not
reading about nature and its quirks he was out in the forest looking for wild
game , fish, and insects (Campbell p 424). His father, although noting his
son's interest in nature, felt that all the discoveries of the natural branch of
science had been accomplished so he sent his...
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