 |
| On
Darwin’s “The Origin of Species”
|
 |
Charles Darwin’s book “The Origin of Species”
is probably one of the most significant scientific works which
produced a great impact on human society, science, philosophy
and general perception of human beings. In fact, it is possible
to estimate that this book revolutionized traditional views
on the development and origin of species, especially humans.
At the same time, being published, this book provoked extremely
controversial reaction and debate had been lasting for years
and decades. Moreover, even nowadays, Charles Darwin’s
theory clearly conveyed in the book is still argued and its
credibility remains under a big question for many people.
Nevertheless, it is hardly possible to underestimate the significance
of Charles Darwin “The Origin of Species” where
he offered a revolutionary view on the origin of humans and
other species. In fact, the key concept of his book is the
notion of evolution. In his work, the author defended the
position that all species in the world develop in the result
of evolution which is constant and unstoppable. In the same
way, he suggested, human beings also evolved and as the ancestors
of the modern humans he considered apes.
Obviously, these ideas provoked quite a controversial reaction
and often “The Origin of Species” simply provoked
shock of wide audience as well as many specialists. However,
it should be pointed out that the idea of evolution was not
new but Charles Darwin was the first who attempted to present
this theory on the scientific basis. What is more important
he perfectly explained the mechanism of evolution by means
of natural selection in the result of which only useful characteristics
are inherited from generation to generation while useless
gradually disappear in the process of evolution. In such a
way species evolve and the changes may be as dramatic as it
was in the case of humans which evolved into highly developed
intellectual beings from apes. Consequently, he created a
scientific basis for evolution which used to be perceived
quite skeptically but his book had changed the view on this
process substantially.
However, this book also provoked a strong protest and opposition
from the part of wide audience and many theorists also attempted
to contradict and totally reject ideas of Darwin which he
presented in “The Origin of Species”. In this
respect, the most serious opposition the book faced from theological
dogmatists and conservative scientist. Remarkably, the opponents
did not reject the mechanism of natural selection suggested
by the scientist but they rejected the very concept of evolution.
Theological dogmatists stood on their own theory of the divine
origin of all species, including humans, on the earth and
this was quite widely spread in the society.
On the other hand, there was a more scientific approach which
criticized Darwin’s ideas. For instance, some scientists,
on eventually accepting the concept of evolution, attacked
Darwin’s idea that evolution is a gradual process. Instead,
theorists suggested that evolution and new species arose through
‘jumps’ rather than gradual adaptation.
Thus, in conclusion, it is necessary to underline that Charles
Darwin’s “The Origin of Species” is really
the book that had change the world and his ideas of evolution
and natural selection, being widely criticized, were basically
accepted as correct in general though debates concerning some
points of his theory still remain open.
Bibliography:
1. Clark, Ronald W. The Survival of Charles Darwin. New York:
Avon Books, 1984.
2. Darwin, C. The Origin of Species. New York: Penguin Classics,
1996.
3. Desmond, Adrian and James Moore. Darwin. London: Penguin
Group, 1991.
|
|
