| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Lester Solnin" |
| Date: |
01 Feb 2005 07:11:47 PM |
| Object: |
Darwinism? way before folks |
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History of Evolutionary Theory
Early Theories
Evolutionary concepts appeared in some early Greek writings, e.g., in =
the works of Thales, Empedocles, Anaximander, and Aristotle. (It was =
Aristotle whoms scientific concept of motion was accepted by the church =
until Galileo challenged those theories. As a result, he was ostracized =
by the church). Under the restraining influence of the Church, no =
evolutionary theories developed during some 15 centuries of the =
Christian era to challenge the belief in special creation and the =
literal interpretation of the first part of Genesis; however, much data =
was accumulated that was to be utilized by later theorists. With the =
growth of scientific observation and experimentation, there began to =
appear from about the middle of the 16th cent. glimpses of the theory of =
evolution that emerged in the mid 19th cent. The invention of the =
microscope, making possible the study of reproductive cells and the =
growth of the science of embryology, was a factor in overthrowing =
hampering theories founded in false ideas of the reproductive process; =
studies in classification (taxonomy or systematics) and anatomy, based =
on dissection, were also influential.
Linnaeus, in his later years, showed an inclination toward belief in the =
mutability of species as a result of his observations of the many =
variations among species. Buffon, on the basis of his work in =
comparative anatomy, suggested the influence of use and disuse in =
molding the organs of vertebrate animals. Lamarck was the first to =
present a clearly stated evolutionary theory, but because it included =
the inheritance of acquired characteristics as the operative force of =
evolution, his whole theory was ridiculed and discredited for many =
years.
Darwinism
Although special creation of each species was the prevalent belief even =
among scientists in the first half of the 19th cent., the evidence in =
favor of evolution had by that time been uncovered. It remained for =
someone to assemble and interpret the evidence and to formulate a =
scientifically credible theory. This was accomplished simultaneously by =
A. R. Wallace and Charles Robert Darwin, who set forth the concepts that =
came to be known as Darwinism. In 1859 appeared the first edition of =
Darwin's Origin of Species. The influence of this evolutionary theory =
upon scientific thought and experimentation cannot be overestimated. In =
the years following the promulgation of Darwin's theory of evolution, =
many accepted and many denied its validity.
The theory found an opposing force in some religious creeds that =
declared it incompatible with their basic tenets. For a time evolution, =
sometimes falsely interpreted as meaning human descent from monkeys =
rather than descent from an ancient and extinct ancestor, became a =
target for attack by both church and educational authorities. Feeling =
ran high even as late as the time of the Scopes trial. Nevertheless, the =
theory of evolution became firmly entrenched as a scientific principle, =
and in most creeds it has been reconciled with religious teachings. Some =
Christian fundamentalists, however, do not accept the theory and have =
striven to have biblical creationism taught in the schools as an =
alternative theory (they have evolved into a species called morons).
Modern Evolutionary Theory
Evolutionary theory has undergone modification in the light of later =
scientific developments. As more and more information has accumulated, =
the facts from a number of fields of investigation have provided =
corroboration and mutual support. Evidence that evolution has occurred =
still rests substantially on the same grounds that Darwin emphasized; =
comparative anatomy, embryology, geographical distribution, and =
paleontology. But additional recent evidence has come from biochemistry =
and molecular biology, which reveals fundamental similarities and =
relations in metabolism and hereditary mechanisms among disparate types =
of organisms. In general, both at the visible level and at the =
biochemical, one can detect the kinds of gradations of relatedness among =
organisms expected from evolution.
The chief weakness of Darwinian evolution lay in gaps in its =
explanations of the mechanism of evolution and of the origin of species =
(he was not aware of genetics and mutations). The Darwinian concept of =
natural selection is that inheritable variations among the individuals =
of given types of organisms continually arise in nature and that some =
variations prove advantageous under prevailing conditions in that they =
enable the organism to leave relatively more surviving offspring. But =
how these variations initially arise or are transmitted to offspring, =
and hence to subsequent generations, was not understood by Darwin. The =
science of genetics, originating at the beginning of the 20th cent. with =
the recognition of the importance of the earlier work of Mendel, =
provided a satisfactory explanation for the origin and transmission of =
variation. In 1901, De Vries presented his theory that mutation, or =
suddenly appearing and well-defined inheritable variation (as opposed to =
the slight, cumulative changes stressed by Darwin), is a force in the =
origin and evolution of species. Mutation in genes is now accepted by =
most biologists as a fundamental concept in evolutionary theory. The =
gene is the carrier of heredity and determines the attributes of the =
individual; thus changes in the genes can be transmitted to the =
offspring and produce new or altered attributes in the new individual.
Still prevalent misunderstandings of evolution are the beliefs that an =
animal or plant changes in order to better adapt to its environment-for =
example, that it develops an eye for the purpose of seeing-and that =
actual physical competition among individuals is required. Since =
mutation is a random process, changes can be either useful, unfavorable, =
or neutral to the individual's or species' survival. However, a new =
characteristic that is not detrimental may sometimes better enable the =
organism to survive or leave offspring in its environment, especially if =
that environment is changing, or to penetrate a new environment-such as =
the development of a lunglike structure that enables an aquatic animal =
to survive on land (see lungfish), where there may be more food and =
fewer predators.
=20
Les
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>History of Evolutionary =
Theory</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Early Theories</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT face=3D"Arial Black">Evolutionary =
concepts=20
appeared in some early Greek writings, </FONT>e.g., in the works of =
Thales,=20
Empedocles, Anaximander, and Aristotle. (It was Aristotle whoms =
scientific=20
concept of motion was accepted by the church until Galileo challenged =
those=20
theories. As a result, he was ostracized by the church). Under the =
restraining=20
influence of the Church, no evolutionary theories developed during some =
15=20
centuries of the Christian era to challenge the belief in special =
creation and=20
the literal interpretation of the first part of Genesis; however, much =
data was=20
accumulated that was to be utilized by later theorists. With the growth =
of=20
scientific observation and experimentation, there began to appear from =
about the=20
middle of the 16th cent. glimpses of the theory of evolution that =
emerged in the=20
mid 19th cent. The invention of the microscope, making possible the =
study of=20
reproductive cells and the growth of the science of embryology, was a =
factor in=20
overthrowing hampering theories founded in false ideas of the =
reproductive=20
process; studies in classification (taxonomy or systematics) and =
anatomy, based=20
on dissection, were also influential.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Linnaeus, in his later years, showed an =
inclination=20
toward belief in the mutability of species as a result of his =
observations of=20
the many variations among species. Buffon, on the basis of his work in=20
comparative anatomy, suggested the influence of use and disuse in =
molding the=20
organs of vertebrate animals. Lamarck was the first to present a clearly =
stated=20
evolutionary theory, but because it included the inheritance of acquired =
characteristics as the operative force of evolution, his whole theory =
was=20
ridiculed and discredited for many years.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Darwinism</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Although special creation of each =
species was the=20
prevalent belief even among scientists in the first half of the 19th =
cent., the=20
evidence in favor of evolution had by that time been uncovered. It <FONT =
face=3D"Arial Black">remained</FONT> for someone to assemble and =
interpret the=20
evidence and to formulate a scientifically credible theory. This was=20
accomplished simultaneously by A. R. Wallace and Charles Robert Darwin, =
who set=20
forth the concepts that came to be known as Darwinism. In 1859 appeared =
the=20
first edition of Darwin's Origin of Species. The influence of this =
evolutionary=20
theory upon scientific thought and experimentation cannot be =
overestimated. In=20
the years following the promulgation of Darwin's theory of evolution, =
many=20
accepted and many denied its validity.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The theory found an opposing force in =
some=20
religious creeds that declared it incompatible with their basic tenets. =
For a=20
time evolution, sometimes falsely interpreted as meaning human descent =
from=20
monkeys rather than descent from an ancient and extinct ancestor, became =
a=20
target for attack by both church and educational authorities. Feeling =
ran high=20
even as late as the time of the Scopes trial. Nevertheless, the theory =
of=20
evolution became firmly entrenched as a scientific principle, and in =
most creeds=20
it has been reconciled with religious teachings. Some Christian =
fundamentalists,=20
however, do not accept the theory and have striven to have biblical =
creationism=20
taught in the schools as an alternative theory (they have evolved into a =
species=20
called morons).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Modern Evolutionary Theory</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Evolutionary theory has undergone =
modification in=20
the light of later scientific developments. As more and more information =
has=20
accumulated, the facts from a number of fields of investigation have =
provided=20
corroboration and mutual support. Evidence that evolution has occurred =
still=20
rests substantially on the same grounds that Darwin emphasized; =
comparative=20
anatomy, embryology, geographical distribution, and paleontology. But =
additional=20
recent evidence has come from biochemistry and molecular biology, which =
reveals=20
fundamental similarities and relations in metabolism and hereditary =
mechanisms=20
among disparate types of organisms. In general, both at the visible =
level and at=20
the biochemical, one can detect the kinds of gradations of relatedness =
among=20
organisms expected from evolution.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The chief weakness of Darwinian =
evolution lay in=20
gaps in its explanations of the mechanism of evolution and of the origin =
of=20
species (he was not aware of genetics and mutations). The Darwinian =
concept of=20
natural selection is that inheritable variations among the individuals =
of given=20
types of organisms continually arise in nature and that some variations =
prove=20
advantageous under prevailing conditions in that they enable the =
organism to=20
leave relatively more surviving offspring. But how these variations =
initially=20
arise or are transmitted to offspring, and hence to subsequent =
generations, was=20
not understood by Darwin. The science of genetics, originating at the =
beginning=20
of the 20th cent. with the recognition of the importance of the earlier =
work of=20
Mendel, provided a satisfactory explanation for the origin and =
transmission of=20
variation. In 1901, De Vries presented his theory that mutation, or =
suddenly=20
appearing and well-defined inheritable variation (as opposed to the =
slight,=20
cumulative changes stressed by Darwin), is a force in the origin and =
evolution=20
of species. Mutation in genes is now accepted by most biologists as a=20
fundamental concept in evolutionary theory. The gene is the carrier of =
heredity=20
and determines the attributes of the individual; thus changes in the =
genes can=20
be transmitted to the offspring and produce new or altered attributes in =
the new=20
individual.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Still prevalent misunderstandings of =
evolution are=20
the beliefs that an animal or plant changes in order to better adapt to =
its=20
environment=96for example, that it develops an eye for the purpose of =
seeing=96and=20
that actual physical competition among individuals is required. Since =
mutation=20
is a random process, changes can be either useful, unfavorable, or =
neutral to=20
the individual's or species' survival. However, a new characteristic =
that is not=20
detrimental may sometimes better enable the organism to survive or leave =
offspring in its environment, especially if that environment is =
changing, or to=20
penetrate a new environment=96such as the development of a lunglike =
structure that=20
enables an aquatic animal to survive on land (see lungfish), where there =
may be=20
more food and fewer predators.<BR> </FONT><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2>=20
<BR>Les</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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| User: "maff" |
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| Title: Re: Darwinism? way before folks |
01 Feb 2005 10:22:56 PM |
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Lester Solnin wrote:
History of Evolutionary Theory
Early Theories
[...]
Darwin's Precursors and Influences
http://talkorigins.org/faqs/darwin-precursors.html
It is sometimes claimed by those who wish to denigrate the achievements
of Charles Darwin that he was little more than a "serial plagiarist."
This essay aims to show that Darwin, like any scientist, had
influences, but that he was honest in his theoretical development.
Biology and Evolutionary Theory
http://talkorigins.org/origins/faqs-evolution.html
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| User: "Al Klein" |
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| Title: Re: Darwinism? way before folks |
01 Feb 2005 08:45:26 PM |
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On Tue, 01 Feb 2005 19:11:47 GMT, "Lester Solnin" <Lsolnin@nyc.rr.com>
said in alt.atheism:
1) Please turn off html. Usenet is a text medium. This is what your
post looks like to many news readers:
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1479" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>History of Evolutionary
Theory</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Early Theories</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Arial Black">Evolutionary
concepts appeared in some early Greek writings, </FONT>e.g., in the
works of Thales, Empedocles, Anaximander, and Aristotle. (It was
Aristotle whoms scientific concept of motion was accepted by the
church until Galileo challenged those theories. As a result, he was
ostracized by the church).
2) Please adjust your line length to about 70 characters.
--
Zymurgist # 2
(random sig, produced by SigChanger)
rukbat at verizon dot net
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