1.
I feel that
Thomas Malthus had the most positive influence over Darwin’s development of his
theory of natural selection. Thomas
Robert Malthus, was an 18th century economist and a clergyman at the
Church of England. In 1798, Malthus published, Essay on the Principle of Population.
The essay described that the human population will grow in areas that have
plenty of food and resources and areas that have less resources will struggle
to survive. Populations will outgrow food and resources available which will lead
to starvation and poverty unless people exercise restraint.
After reading Malthus’ essay, Charles Darwin realized that much of his
own research of nature resembled Malthus’ description of human population. Darwin realized that the
growth population or lack there of applied to not only humans but also to
nature. He saw competition between
individual species. For example, a bird
with a sharper beak may have a better chance of survival or reproduction. Therefore, the struggle to survive or the survival
of the fittest as applied to nature helped Darwin shape his ideas for the
Natural Selection.
2.
Thomas Malthus contributed to the scientific
community by observing the growth in population and how it relates to hunger,
disease, struggle and survival. He also
observed the population of animal and plants and studied how they produce
offspring. Malthus is best remembered
for his influence and contribution to Charles Darwins theory of natural
selection. http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/history_07
3. Thomas Malthus most directly affected the following point: Resources
are limited.
Malthus Essay on the Principle of Population
focused on population growth, resources, and the natural outcome from these
influences. Without the proper resources
there will be a struggle to survive. These
theories influenced Darwin’s work. In Darwin’s natural selection demonstrates that
resources are limited.
4. Could Darwin have developed his theory of
natural selection without the influence of Thomas Malthus?
The following quote is from Charles Darwin’s
autobiography (1876), “In October
1838, that is, fifteen months after I had begun my systematic inquiry, I
happened to read for amusement Malthus on Population,
and being well prepared to appreciate the struggle for existence which
everywhere goes on from long- continued observation of the habits of animals
and plants, it at once struck me that under these circumstances favourable
variations would tend to be preserved, and unfavourable ones to be destroyed.
The results of this would be the formation of a new species. Here, then I had
at last got a theory by which to work".
This quote clearly states that Malthus’ Essay on the Principle of Population (1798)
was crucial to Darwin’s theory of
natural selection. I do not believe he
would have come up with his theory without this viewpoint from Malthus.
5. How
did the attitude of the church affect Darwin and his eventual publication of his
book on the Origin of Species?
Religion
was very powerful in the early nineteenth century Britain. The church was heavily connected politically
and socially. Darwin was social and while living in London he rubbed shoulders
with affluent and influential scientists.
Darwin attended church regularly
and his wife was very religious. His
theory undermined the Christian belief and he knew it would get negative response.
The church had a big influence on Darwin as he was very reluctant to publish his
theory in fear of repercussions for himself and his family. Darwin waited 20 years to publish his Origin of Species and
he only decided to publish it after he received a paper from Alfred Wallace whose
paper stated the same theory his own. Darwin knew if he didn’t publish his book soon
then he would receive credit.
