Mentoring Darwin

1. Who had the most influence on Darwin and the development of the theory of natural selection?

            I think the two most influential men for Darwin were Charles Lyell & Thomas Malthus.  Lyell, a good friend of Darwin, inspired him in Geology and how earth processes happen over long periods of time (though Lyell himself was cautious in accepting evolution).   If I had to pick one man however…the one I see most evidently influencing Darwin, is Malthus. 

            I think this influence was positive, but simultaneously troubling for Darwin due to (human) social implications.

2.  What was this person’s contribution to the scientific community?

            Malthusian ideology is still relevant today, and is very much discussed.  He is most well known for his writing titled: An Essay on the Principle of Population.

Link: http://www.esp.org/books/malthus/population/malthus.pdf

3.  Bullet Points showing how Darwin was influenced by Malthus’ work:

·         All organisms have the potential of reproducing exponentially

·         What is preventing organisms from reproducing at their potential? – Natural environment.

·         Resources are limited

·         Organisms with better access to resources will be more successful in their reproductive efforts

·         Who gets better access to these limited resources? – animals with the right genetic variation

·         In order for natural selection to occur, reproduction MUST occur!

Malthus addresses all of these points and said,

“Population, when unchecked, increases in a geometrical ratio.  Subsistence increases only in an arithmetical ratio. A slight acquaintance with numbers will shew the immensity of the first power in comparison of the second.”

“Through the animal and vegetable kingdoms, nature has scattered the seeds of life abroad with the most profuse and liberal hand. She has been comparatively sparing in the room and the nourishment necessary to rear them. The germs of existence contained in this spot of earth, with ample food, and ample room to expand in, would fill millions of worlds in the course of a few thousand years. Necessity, that imperious all pervading law of nature, restrains them within the prescribed bounds. The race of plants and the race of animals shrink under this great restrictive law. And the race of man cannot, by any efforts of reason, escape from it.”

From this line of thought, I feel Darwin was propelled forward in his other conclusions about evolution.  Combine this with the understanding (gained from Lyell) that the earth is very old and one can conclude that species have time to evolve.

4. Do you think Darwin would have still come up with his theory of natural selection without the influence of this person?

            I think Darwin would have come up with his theory; it just may not have gone into the detail and depth that it now exhibits.

5.  How did the attitude of the church affect Darwin and his eventual publication of his book On the Origin of Species?

            The church advocated the belief that all creatures are created by God, are fixed, and do not change.  Anyone who challenged this divine scenario could be accused of heresy.  In addition, many biblical scholars believed the earth to be very young.  Darwin’s book caused much debate and was not accepted by everyone.  The scholarly and scientific realm did come to his defense though.

Souces:

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/malthus.html

http://www.aboutdarwin.com/index.html

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/02/4/l_024_01.html