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The History and Impact of Charles Darwin
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The Beginning of Change
At the ripe age of just 22, world renown scientist Charles Darwin was offered an opportunity of a lifetime. His whole life would change, and so would science as he then knew it at the time. Darwin left his hometown in the United Kingdom to explore and survey South America on the HMS Beagle to be a naturalist for the crew. This voyage lasted 5 years and his most note-worthy journal entries were made in the Galapagos Islands. -
Discoveries in the Galapagos
Abroad the HMS Beagle, Darwin travelled around the Galapagos Islands for about 2 months (Sep.1835-Oct. 1835.) Darwin was stunned when each island was home to different species, especially endemic species. He noted that such species were very similarly related, but all different to suit their specific environment, supporting his theory of evolution. One of his famous studies was on the 13 species of Galapagos Finches, and how they proved this view on species diversity. -
Becoming Published
5 years of findings and research push Darwin to eventually publish a book on his findings and theory of evolution, named "On the Origin of Species." Funny enough, Darwin never used the words “evolution” or “ecology” in the first edition of his findings, for both words were coined later on. His first book was published on November 24th, 1859, this was not his only piece of work however, for he continued to publish several other books based on his research and findings up until May 1st, 1881. -
Change and Controversy
Darwin catapulted the findings of evolutionary biology and established that nature is governed by its own law. He discovered and expanded theories on natural selection and organism adaptation. His discoveries catapulted further discovery and human knowledge, but it was not easy – he created much controversy in regard to religion. The creation of the world and man in religious perspective is entirely incompatible with Darwanian Evolution. -
Impact on the Philosophy of Science
Biology as we know it today uses Darwinism as a basic component. Darwin introduced the Philosophy of Biology for the very first time. Unlike physics and chemistry, evolutionary biology requires historical biology to help prove theories. When he created the concept of natural selection, he disproved old theorists on how and why organisms exist where they do to begin with.