THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION AND NATURAL SELECTION

The Theory of Evolution and Natural Selection



The Theory of Evolution and Natural Selection

Introduction

More than a century after his death, and four generations after the publication of his chief work, 'The Origin of Species', Charles Darwin may still be considered the most controversial scientist in the world. His name is synonymous with the debate that continues to swirl around the theory of evolution, a theory that deeply shook the Western view of humanity and its place in the world. We tend to speak simply of the theory of evolution, leaving off the explanatory phrase, 'through natural selection.' At most, perhaps, the general public has heard of 'survival of the fittest' a poor phrase as far as I'm concerned, since fitness in everyday usage is associated with physical conditioning and athletic ability.

Thesis Statement

“Charles Darwin did not invented the concept of evolution”

Supporting Arguments

'Survival of the most suited to its environment' would be a more accurate, and convincing expression for this perticular concept (Sproule 1990). But to most of us, 'evolution' simply means that human beings are descended from apes, a slight misunderstanding, since both humans and modern apes are descendants of a mutual ancestor that is now extinct. It's not evolution but the theory of natural selection and the evidence he collected to prove to fellow scientists, peers, students, and most importantly the masses of public and the church that were at the heart of Darwin's contribution to biological science. . Charles Darwin did not invent the concept of evolution. A number of prominent scientists and other thinkers during the eighteenth century and the first half of the nineteenth century (among them Charles Darwin's grandfather, Erasmus Darwin) had offered detailed theories of evolution (Clark, 1984, pg.24-25).

Therefore the idea of evolution went very far back in Western ...