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Birth
Charles Darwin was born in 1809 in England. He was born into a rural English Family. Darwin's father was a physician and wanted the same for his son, but Darwin chose a different path. Darwin grew up having naturalist interest, but first went to college to be a clergyman. While attending Christ’s College of the University of Cambridge he found he way into naturalist opportunities. -
HMS Beagle Voyage
After graduating college in 1831, Darwin was invited to be naturalist on the HMS Beagle a mapping project in South America that lasted from 1831-1836. This was significant, as Darwin was able to observe plants and animals in all different areas along the coast seeing evidence of change. The Cape Verde Islands and Galapagos Islands were the two main places Darwin compared species and saw evidence of distinct differences. Darwin did not know yet, but he was witnessing the change of evolution. -
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Observations
Charles Darwin's voyage allowed him to collect data of species he saw all over South America. Darwin had a notebook he titled "the species question" where he drew pictures of the species he saw. His famous drawing of the finches he saw at the Galapagos Islands known as "Darwin's finches", was where he noticed different features between species in different location and wondered why there were variations. This was the beginning of his theory that would change the scientific outlook. -
Evolution by Natural Selection
After Darwin's voyage, Darwin had the specimens he collected examined by zoologists in England and realized the variations of species must be due to an evolutionary process.
Thomas Robert Malt had written an Essay on the Principle of Population (1798/1803) about the "warring of species", what we know as "survival of the fittest". This was crucial information to Darwin as in 1838, he realized that animals adapt overtime to resources that are changing; theory of evolution by natural selection. -
Darwin and Wallace
Darwin completed his theory of natural selection by 1844, but was reluctant to publish, as he did not want it to be rejected. So, in 1858, Alfred Russel Wallace had published a paper similar to Darwin's theory. Then, at the Linnean Society of London, Darwin and Wallace gave speeches about their theory of evolution, in which they are both recognized as co-discoverers of the theory. Wallace was the push Darwin needed to publicize his findings, but Darwin is known as the main founder of evolution. -
The Origin of Species
Darwin published, On the Origin of Species by Natural Selection in 1859, which became a best seller. This spread his knowledge of his theory that organisms evolve over time through the process of "natural selection". This was applied to plants and animals, and Darwin asked many questions in his book to get scientist and everyone thinking about the origin of species and how things evolve overtime. The periods following, became known as Darwinism, eventually changing the thinking of the world. -
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Revolution?
After Darwin's Origin of Species, it caused an uproar and change in science, but was it considered a revolution? In history after 1859, it is labeled the Darwinian Revolution, because people became evolutionist, even if they did not believe it just made sense. Also, "Then he turned around, and showed how evolution through selection throws light on topics across biology, instinct, paleontology, biogeography, systematics, anatomy, embryology, and more" (Ruse). Darwin had a big impact in science. -
The Descent of Man
Darwin had only hinted about the evolution of humans in The Origin of Species by stating, "Light will be thrown on the Origin of man and his history". In 1871 Darwin published the Descent of man, applying his original theory to humans, connecting us to ape-like ancestors. It portrays his theory of sexual selection and questions the origin of humans. This had a large impact on society, religion and the scientific community as it questioned humans role in the universe. -
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Acceptance
After Darwin published The Descent of Man, it correlated with the Origin. It is stated, "Sexual selection could now be marshaled to explain both sexual dimorphism and also those character and properties of organisms" (Sloan). Darwin was gaining more acceptance from the scientific community even though there were still so many unanswered questions. Every philosopher knew they did not have all the answers and Darwin knew there were questions to be answered, but he started a change in science. -
Death
Charles Darwin died on April 19, 1882. He held high respects with his colleagues and the British science, as he was buried at Westminster Abbey near to Sir Issac Newton. Darwin's theory was not really accepted until his death and investigated more afterward. Darwin wrote many books over his life time that helped understand evolution and natural selection, which is still a topic discussed today. Darwin's impact on the philosophy of science still lives on, like in DNA, race, gender, genetics, etc. -
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Evolution Today
This link https://youtu.be/urSNtaQKOAk, a video on Charles Darwin, explains his historical significance. Charles Darwin is still discussed today and has an impact on the philosophy of science for his concepts of evolution, natural selection and the origin of species. In all, Darwin explained how characteristics are passed along from one generations to the other to adapt better. He was very influential in his era and brought a new understanding of life and science through evolutionary biology.
