Before Darwin's Theory of Evolution
Did you know that there were many scientists who had the same thoughts and theories as Charles Darwin? This is called Pre-Darwinian Theories and these creationists had the same ideas and concepts during the early 19th century and even before that. Most of these scientists did not openly share their ideas to the public because they would get criticized due to religious views.
Did you know that there were many scientists who had the same thoughts and theories as Charles Darwin? This is called Pre-Darwinian Theories and these creationists had the same ideas and concepts during the early 19th century and even before that. Most of these scientists did not openly share their ideas to the public because they would get criticized due to religious views.
James Ussher is a 17th century Anglican archbishop of Armagh in Northern Ireland. He reinforced the traditional Judeo-Christian version of creationism. October 23, 4004 B.C. is the date that James Ussher proclaimed that is the date of creation. During his lifetime, he only focused on the details in his calculations instead of approaching them. He believed that the earth and life on it are only 6000 years old.
Carolus Linnaeus was the Sweden botanist and the leading biological scientist of the mid 18th century. He was known as a first class scientist. Linnaeus has written 180 books that are filled with perfect descriptions of nature such as plants and animals. The most important contribution he did for science was his logical classification system for all living things.
John Ray is an English naturalist and ordained minister. Ray developed the concept of genus and species in the late 1600's. He categorized us along with all apes, monkeys, and prosimians. This was very controversial at the time because it implied that humans are part of nature with plants and animals.
George Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon is a wealthy French mathematician and naturalist. He believed that living things do change over a course of time and that the earth has to be much older than 6000 years. In fact, he discovered that the earth must but at least 75,000 years old. Buffon also suggested that apes and humans are related. He hid his views in a limited edition natural history book series called Historie Naturelle. By doing this, Buffon avoided public criticism.
Erasmus Darwin is Charles Darwin's grandfather. Darwin was an English physician, poet, and amatuer scientist. He believed that evolution occurred in living things but he he didn't quite know why. He wrote his ideas about evolutions through poems. He suggested that the earth and life on it must have been evolving for millions of ages before the commencement of the history of mankind.
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck was the first evolutionist who confidently and publicly started his ideas about the process leading to biological change. His theory about these processes were incorrect. He believed that evolution occurred because the inheritance of acquired characteristics as when creatures adapted to their environment. He believed that creatures can develop new organs or change the structure and function of old ones. George Cuvier and other critics to not give Lamarck credit his theory.
Charles Darwin is best known for his work as a naturalist. Darwin studied many specimens around the world which led him to create the Theory of Evoluttion. He published his book, "On The Orgin of Species."
Theory of Evolution Today |
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Darwin's Theory of Evolution has a huge impact on today's society. It explains the differences in organisms and provides clues and hints about life may have developed from common ancestors over time. Linnaean system of classification is the basis for naming and describing organisms in Biology. We know that our planet has been shaped due to many events such as being hit by large meteors, earthquakes etc. All of these events might have affected the rate and direction of biological evolution.
It has been over 150 years after Charles Darwin published his book, "On the Origin of Species" and many people today are still fighting over this evolution. It has gotten so drastic that it has been broughten up to the Supreme Court to ban the learning of Evolution due to religious beliefs. Many religious people believe that we are made from god, not related to animals and plants.
Resources
Zhao, Buyun. "Charles Darwin & Evolution." N.p., 2009. Web. 23 Oct. 2014. <http://darwin200.christs.cam.ac.uk/pages/index.php?page_id=e1>.
O'Neil, Dennis. "Early Theories of Evolution." Pre-Darwinian Theories. N.p., 2012. Web. 23 Oct. 2014. <http://anthro.palomar.edu/evolve/evolve_1.htm>.
O'Neil, Dennis. "Early Theories of Evolution." Pre-Darwinian Theories. N.p., 2012. Web. 23 Oct. 2014. <http://anthro.palomar.edu/evolve/evolve_1.htm>.