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Evolutionary Theory. An introduction. The Worldview of Early Modern Europe. Fixity of species “Design”. Nicolaus Copernicus; Galileo Galilei 1473 – 1543 1564 –1642. James Usher (1581-1656). Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778). Jean Baptiste Lamarck (1744-1829).
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Evolutionary Theory An introduction
The Worldview of Early Modern Europe • Fixity of species • “Design”
Nicolaus Copernicus; Galileo Galilei 1473 – 15431564 –1642
Natural Selection Darwin’s big Idea
From Darwin’s intro to his Book On the Origin of Species • “…the Struggle for Existence amongst all organic beings throughout the world, which inevitably follows from the high geometrical ratio of their increase, will be treated of. This is the doctrine of Malthus, applied to the whole animal and vegetable kingdoms. As many more individuals of each species are born than can possibly survive; and as, consequently, there is a frequently recurring struggle for existence, it follows that any being, if it vary however slightly in any manner profitable to itself, under the complex and sometimes varying conditions of life, will have a better chance of surviving, and thus be naturally selected. From the strong principle of inheritance, any selected variety will tend to propagate its new and modified form.”
The key points 1. Excessive fertility • Extensive variation of organisms • Competition for resources • “Natural selection” of advantageous variants • Reproduction of advantageous traits
The key points 1. Excessive fertility (observation) • Extensive variation of organisms (observation) • Competition for resources (inferred from #1) • “Natural selection” of advantageous variants • Reproduction of advantageous traits
The Concept • Excessive fertility combined with • extensive variation of organisms contributes to • competition for resources in which there is a 4. “natural selection” of advantageous variants resulting in 5. The reproduction of advantageous traits.
