Origin of Species by Darwin - Essay Example

?Darwin: Origin of Species INTRODUCTION How did the human race evolve on earth? Why, how and when was life first formed on earth? These questions have been a continuous topic for debate since the ancient times. Gradually, assumptions were formed that it was God who had created the life on earth. But the thought was quite firmly contradicted by Darwin’s theory for the ‘Origin of Species’ that had marked the turning point of biological studies. It not only led the foundation of a revolutionary thought to interpret the evolution of mankind and many other species, but also acted as a key to many scientific theories which were further applied for the preservation of various animal genuses to maintain the biological balance on earth. Although interesting and fascinating, scientific theories have often been too challenging to be interpreted, owing to the inclusion of particular terminologies. Also, readers, who possess little interest in learning scientific theories, often decipher reluctance to go though books related with this particular subject area; thus, confining the applicability of such books within educational curriculums. Darwin’s book on his theory of “Origins of Species”, which was later edited by Philip Appleman, depicts the evolutionary theory coined by Darwin in a simple and in an astonishingly casual but effective manner to bind the concentration of its readers. The chapter orientation and the smooth narrative flow throughout the book, certainly posses the strength to explain the true meaning of Darwin’s theory to its readers, irrespective of them being associated in the field of scientific studies. Another feature that secludes the book written by Charles Darwin and then condensed by Philip Appleman, from any other book based on scientific theories, was the philosophical notions used to contradict the long inherited belief of human race that species on earth were the creation of God. THESIS STATEMENT This thesis will aim at reviewing the book written by Charles Darwin, based on this theory of “Origins of Species”, which was later, in the year 2002, was published after being edited by Philip Appleman. Correspondingly, this thesis will provide an overview to the context of the book and further attempt to make a critical review of the narration postulated in the book. OVERVIEW The theory propagated by Darwin, regarding the history of the evolution of various species on earth, remains to be a debatable topic even in the modern society. Since its postulation, the theory has been acting as a reason for the polarization of scientists and philosophists, specifically the theists. Stating precisely, the notion put forward by Darwin’s theory of “Origins of Species”, limits the act of God in the creation of living species on earth. Accordingly, the theory opposes the Biblical postulation that God is the supreme and the creator of the universe, stating that at least on earth, the species were born mainly due to cell divisions and due to the adaptability of the early species to change and survive in different geographic as well as biological conditions. As per the theory, species on earth did not require the help of God to evolve and survive through devastating alterations in the climatic, geographic or demographic conditions; rather, they were able to develop their capabilities to adapt and survive. As affirmed in the book by Darwin and Appleman, (1) “No case in on record of a variable organism ceasing to vary under cultivation. Our oldest cultivated plants, such as wheat, still yield new varieties: our oldest domesticated animals are still capable of rapid improvement or modification”. This apparently contradicts the Biblical verse in Genesis 2:3–2:7 that “the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Cosans 362). CRITICAL ANALYSIS In his book, ‘Origin of Species’, Darwin had primarily been concerned about the core reason for the struggle of various species for existence, wherein the law of variation among the species and the uneven availability of resources in the world, created the main problems to the existence of the creatures in this world. Accordingly, in the initial chapters of the book, a simple, very comprehensive and thoughtful account has been rendered concentrating on the evolution of various species on earth. In his first chapter, “Variation under domestication”, Darwin focused on giving a brief account of the regular experiences of human beings as evidence to his theoretical assumptions. The narration takes reference from the species surrounding human civilization where one breed of domestic cattle is different from the other, even though it belongs to the same genus. Gradually, in the second chapter, titled as “Variation under nature”, Darwin focuses on the explanation of “incipient species” (Darwin and Appleman 22). It is in this context that taking the example of the regular experiences in human life, Darwin was able to relate the reader’s perception with his theory and thus, increase comprehensibility of his assumptions. As argued by Campbell, it was strongly because of his narrative style and also because of his ability to take illustrations from the regular lifestyle of the readers to substantiate his assumptions, that Darwin was understood or believed by his readers (203-237). Once he was able to attract the reader’s mind, Darwin, in his next chapter titled, “Struggle for existence”, Darwin focused on elaborating the reasons due to which the human society could witness “incipient species”, as described by him in the previous chapter. As per Darwin’s narration, the origin of species and their transformations on a continuous basis can be justifiably affirmed as quite unbelievable when concentrating on a particular period of time as the process tends to be a very sluggish procedure of genetic changes. As the possible causes of variations, Darwin held the external conditions, such as climate changes, food and behavior among others to be responsible. Correspondingly, it was in the third chapter that Darwin described his thought about the “Natural Selection” and thus, formed the foundation for his arguments in the next chapter, i.e. “Natural selection and survival of the fittest” (Darwin and Appleman 26). In this chapter, Darwin explains that the prime reason for the existence of a species is to give birth to the new generation owing to which, sexual selection becomes highly significant. This further shapes the “reciprocally dimorphic features” among species (Darwin and Appleman 43). Another reason for the transformation of species over a particular period of time has been ascertained as the need for food by Darwin. For example, when a herbivorous species suffers from the lack of adequate greenery in its habituated surrounding, may be due to climatic changes or natural calamities or even due to regular human interventions, the species is quite likely to either get extinct owing to the lack of adequate food, or shall develop certain changes through which it will be able to feed on other living animals as a carnivorous. Again, because of geographical changes or to search food at distant places, species have also been observed to develop wings. These examples from the surrounding biological world have also been used by Darwin to prove his theoretical assumption regarding the “survival of the fittest” (Darwin and Appleman 45-60). Accordingly, creating a linkage from his justifications in chapter four, Darwin narrates the “Laws of variation” in chapter five of the book, where a more precise account on the reasons as to why a particular species became different from the other, even if they belonged to a similar geographical area, had similar food habits and also relates to the same class, family or genus. It was from the sixth chapter that Darwin shifted from concentrating on scientific explanation of his theory towards philosophical arguments. Apparently, the narration in the later phase of the book, covering the chapters six to fourteen, intended to create a psychological impression on the readers by strongly countering their religious belief of God. Taking examples from Biblical verses, Darwin explicitly contradicted that it was not God but the species themselves who are capable of making changes in their appearances with the adaptation of alterations in their genetic systems. It was due to this particular capability of the living species on earth that “the young cuckoo ejecting its foster-brothers, —ants making slaves, —the larvae of ichneumonidae feeding within the live bodies of caterpillars, —not as specially endowed or created instincts, but as small consequences of one general law, leading to the advancement of all organic beings, namely, multiply, vary, let the strongest live and the weakest die” (Darwin and Appleman 133). Although a gradual shift can be observed in the narration of the book, being concentrated on biological conceptualization of the theoretical assumptions postulated by Darwin, to a philosophical account to the same, it was quite evident that the writers did not at all shift from the focus on justifying that it is solely because of the capability of the species themselves that they have changed and they have survived successfully. CONCLUSION Although the postulations of Darwin’s theory of evolution are subjected to debates, its significance in the history of modern science has been remarkably accepted and regarded by theorists of all dimensions. It is in this context that the narrative flow of the book and also the scientific as well as philosophical implications of the theory have often been referred to accredit Charles Darwin, not only as an excellent scientific thinker, but also as a magnificent and rational philosopher. It is worth mentioning in this regard that the book “Origins of Species” was initially published around 150 years ago. Certainly, the book has imposed dissimilar implications and importance in the early era and the recent era. Constructed with fifteen chapters, the overall narration of the book presents a thematic explanation to Darwin’s theory of evolution. Postulating a story of the survival and change adaptation of various species, the book ultimately proves that it has always been “survival of the fittest” on earth where the key to success were the adaptability of the species, their genetic characteristics and their urge to survive on the planet. Works cited Cosans, Chris. “Was Darwin a Creationist?” The Johns Hopkins University Press 48.3 (2005): 362-371. Campbell, John Angus. “Why Was Darwin Believed? Darwin's Origin and the Problem of Intellectual Revolution” The Johns Hopkins University Press 11.2 (2003): 203-237. Darwin, Charles and Philip Appleman. The Origin of the Species. 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