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Charles Robert Darwin (February 12, 1809 - April 19, 1882)
Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882. On The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. London: John Murray, 1859.
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Charles Darwin was born February 12, 1809 and led a relatively normal Victorian life. He always showed an interest in science and jumped at the chance to go aboard the HMS Beagle and circumnavigate the world. This trip was the defining time that he would personally -
Charles Robert Darwin (February 12, 1809 - April 19, 1882)
start to recognize the nature of evolution through his own observations. When he returned home to England in 1835, he was able to devote much of the next few decades to developing his theory of evolution.
His accomplishments with evolution not only advanced biology but also the philosophy of science. His discernments created a new branch, the philosophy of biology. The four insights of evolution he described laid the foundation for this new branch. -
Charles Robert Darwin (February 12, 1809 - April 19, 1882)
He built on the already established idea that evolution was linear but that it was also gradual, with no major cessations and the mechanism was natural selection. Using these he introduced historical science. Meaning that since we have no way to run experiments, we have to tentatively construct scenarios that explain past events.
After Darwin published his theory and findings, a debate raged for about 80 years because there were four competing evolutionary theories. It was finally resolved -
Charles Robert Darwin (February 12, 1809 - April 19, 1882)
in the 1940’s due to advancement with genetics and Darwin’s theory came out the winner.
Darwin had a tumultuous road he traveled to be able to even present his book. In the Victorian era he lived, his ideas were considered blasphemous and caused him great pains. But he was able to present his theory and not only opened doors in the scientific world but also was able to change the average persons worldview.
He died April 19, 1882 and at the request of his, he was buried at Westminster Abbey.
