I would argue that
Thomas Malthus had the most influence on Charles Darwin development of his
theory of natural selection. Thomas had a positive influence towards Charles
because of a book that Thomas wrote which was called “Essay on the Principle of
Evolution”. The books main concept is that the growth of population would
always overcome the growth of food. Meaning struggle, disease and hunger would
rise and affect the survival of the growing population. Charles was captivated
by Thomas’s point of view of survival which he later used and applied his principle
to his evolutionary system.
Thomas’s contribution
to the community was that he opened the door for Darwin to come up with the
natural selection of organisms. Darwin saw that the strong and weak organisms
were struggling for survival and that one would overcome causing evolution. What
is preventing organisms from reproducing at their potential? (One of the
points) I think this is directly towards Thomas Malthus principle of the
population and survival because it’s talking about primary resources and how
either the strong or the weak will survive. For both parties it comes back to
habitat, food, and predators that’s preventing them from reproducing. In my
opinion I think resources play a big role in reproducing even surviving which were
both Charles and Thomas’s idea on natural selection. Populations could grow in environments
if there were equal enough of resources that could sustain the organisms.
I don’t think Darwin
would of came up with the theory of natural selection because without him
reading the book Thomas had wrote he wouldn’t of been so fascinated by his
principle of population. I believe that the book opened up Darwin’s mind about
evolution and population, mainly when Thomas wrote about the organisms fighting
for survival.
I think Darwin’s attitude
stayed the same if anything he accepted the feedback and only made him feel
more successful for taking credit of the natural selection theory. The book he
published raised a lot of awareness and caused people to argue and go against or
accept what he was stating. Many people from the church were against the book
and though it was wrong the way he explained evolution. His book sold many
copies and made him revise it for a second book, he persuaded many people and I’m
sure he felt accomplished and did not really pay any attention of what the
church though some people from the church were on the same page with Darwin.
I like how interesting your post was. I agree completely that Malthus had a lot of affect on Darwin's coming of the natural selection. But I disagree that although Malthus may have helped Darwin with some ideas, I do believe that Darwin could have come up with them on his own. Otherwise, I think your post was great!
ReplyDeleteThanks Samantha Azar. I also agree with what your saying. I believe Darwin was already heading down that path, i just think Malthus brought it closer to him. But thanks for your constructive comments!!
ReplyDeleteI believe that Darwin could have eventually been able to develop his theory of Natural Selection on his own but it would have taken a little bit longer to do without Malthus's the idea of population. Also you really didn't answer the question on the last point. Although I do see where you are coming from because his theory changed the view point on life on earth and it was a radical idea at that time and is still something that has most people divided on but other than that nice job.
ReplyDeleteWatch your sources! This source (AllAboutScience) is actually part of a larger umbrella site called "AllAboutGod", which is not a problem in and of itself, but they are not a science cite and their information is not reliable. This is listed under the "Bad Resources" page on the course in Blackboard. Make yourself familiar with that page along with the 'Good Resources' page.
ReplyDeleteThat said, good background on Malthus and you made good connections between Malthus' work and Darwin's in your discussion on the applicable bullet points. Well done.
I agree that Malthus may well have been indispensable to Darwin's work. Malthus seems to have provided the key Darwin needed to put together all the pieces of his research puzzle. Darwin even seems to suggest this in his notes:
"... it at once struck me that under these circumstances favourable variations would tend to be preserved, and unfavourable ones to be destroyed. The results of this would be the formation of a new species. Here, then I had at last got a theory by which to work".
Charles Darwin, from his autobiography. (1876) http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/malthus.html
The final question doesn't ask about how his work was received after it was published. It asks how the church influenced Darwin's decision to publish in the first place. Darwin delayed for more than 20 years before publishing. Why? What were his concerns? And what role might the church have played in his decision to delay?