The Theory That Shook The World
Other than Mendellson and his studies with genetics,
Darwin has by far contributed the most to our modern science.
From his theories on variation of species to his explanation of
natural selection Charles Darwin has shocked the world by proving
the world older than previously thought and creatures not
immutable. In this present day these theories are as common
belief as a simple mathematical equation such as two plus two
equals four; but in the year eighteen hundred and fifty nine
Darwin not only risked his reputation with these far fetched
findings but also the risk of being excommunicated from the
church. Previous to Darwin the thought had been that the world
itself was only a few hundred years old and that all creatures
were made by God in those seven days as they lived exactly today
(Campbell p 421). Aside from past resistance, Darwin also comes
under scrutiny still today as missing fossils which are to have
been the bridge between a two familiar species are not yet found
(Hitching p 3).
Whatever the reason of belief or disbelief in
Darwin's theories, he astounded the scientific world as well as
the public and was able to convince many in the presence of a
misguided past belief. This fact alone makes him one of the most
important people of science ever.
Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury-Shropshire,
England on Feb 12, 1809 (GEA & RBi p 42). He was the fifth child
in a wealthy English family with a history of scientific
achievement with his paternal grandfather Erasmus Darwin who was
a physician and a savant in the eighteenth century (GEA & RBi p
42). As a young boy Darwin already showed signs of his love for
nature. When he was not reading about...