The most influence that may have affected Charles Darwin's Development of his theory of Natural selection was Alfred Russel Wallace.
Wallace had started his fascination in collecting species of plants and animals and had taken an interest in the different species of the same and had wondered why there were different of the same. He began on going on expeditions where he acquired more knowledge of his interests. In 1855, Wallace published a journal suggesting that current species were descendants from other species and that the appearance of new ones was based mainly on environmental factors. This actually caused others to urge Darwin to publish his own findings, but he hesitated. Wallace again described evolution as a process driven by competition and natural selection. Once again when Darwin received Wallace's new paper, Darwin began to wonder that if he were to wait to publish his own findings Wallace would receive all credit, hence the book "Origin of Species".
Resources being limited, organisms with better access to resources are more successful, in order for natural selection to occur, reproduction of those species are a necessity and in order for traits to evolve, they have to be heritable, and lastly natural selection is a result of the environment. All of these meaning that Wallace was aware that there is a force which allow certain species to be dominant and that there is a natural order that has to be maintained. That being said
dominant species will always prevail. Darwin could not have come up with these conclusions on his own. He had to have a colloboration of all ideas. The ideas of the church were not to deter Darwin from publishing his work. The church was upset that Darwin's ideas were to lead to the undermine of faith, as opposed to the marriage of faith and science.
Hi John,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post. Do you think Darwin published "Origin of Species" because of Wallace's influences or because he was afraid that Wallace was going to get all the credit for the ideas? Either way I think Wallace's publishing in 1855 regarding current species being descendants of other species was a great example of an idea that influenced Darwin. I think it is an important topic of natural selection.
Good description of Wallace's background and how his findings and communications influenced Darwin. For clarification, Wallace didn't actually publish until he and Darwin published jointly. He wrote his ideas and his theory in private letters to Darwin.
ReplyDeletePicking a bullet point for Wallace is difficult since all apply to him as well as to Darwin, don't they? Anyone (or all of them) would have been correct, but good explanation of your choice.
"Darwin could not have come up with these conclusions on his own."
But that wasn't the question. The question at hand was could Darwin have developed his theory without this individual, Wallace, in particular? The answer is yes, since Darwin developed his theory before Wallace communicated with him, correct? Wallace confirmed and supported Darwin's work but didn't lead to it. If anything, the greatest influence of Wallace may have been the impetus for Darwin to finally publish after 20+ years delay.
Which leads to the final question. In the end, Darwin did publish but he waited for more than two decades. Why? What were his concerns? How did the influence of the church come into play here? And the church didn't know about his work until after he published, so this isn't about direct threats but general social influence on the social and scientific community.
Other than a few points, good first post.