Perhaps one of the most influential thinkers and scientists to aid Darwin in his findings of the evolutionary theory was Jean Baptiste-Lamarck. Lamarck's landmark theory was known as the inheritance of acquired characteristics. This theory suggested a dynamic relationship between a species and its environment, and suggested that should a certain species' environment change, that species would change over time to acclimate to its surroundings. A common example of Lemarck's theory is hypothetically expressed through giraffes. As giraffes continually consume leaves at the bottom of trees, they try to reach leaves in higher branches. This straining force brings new tissues to the neck, elongating it and passing this new trait onto its offspring. This theory, which has since been disproved was influential to Darwin in accumulating his own theories. It helped Darwin to conclude that organisms that are better suited to their environment will benefit from its resources. Lamarck differed in that he believed organisms were constantly evolving upwards towards greater complexity and perfection, while Darwin's theory of natural selection held that natural selection acted on random variation, not a constant improvement.
Darwin's publication On the Origin of Species was and still is heavily opposed by the church. In Darwin's time the church held great precedence over all scientific and philosophical discovery, and to make any verbal or written opposition to the church could lead to ones imprisonment and or death. This heavy constraint by the church only invigorated Darwin more to publicize and educate the public of his findings.
Sources:
Introduction to Physical Anthropology text
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/02/3/l_023_01.html
I really enjoyed reading your post! Good job! I also liked your example about Lamarck's theories about the giraffe. I can see that it closely related to Darwin's theory about natural selection. Due to the fact that these two theories being so closely related, do you think that Darwin would have been able to come up with the theory of natural selection on his own or do you think that Lamarck had a great and vital influence on Darwin?
ReplyDeleteGreat description of Lamarck's body of work and the parallel's and differences with Darwin's work. Good catch on the issue of increasing complexity verses the simpler concept of change over time in response to a changing environment acting on variation in the population.
ReplyDeleteDo you think could have come up with his theory without Lamarck? I couldn't find that section in your essay.
The Church wasn't throwing too many people in jail like they were doing Galileo's time (or killing them for that matter), but their influence was such that people who challenged their teachings could face social and professional "bullying" if you will to encourage them to stay quiet or retract their statements. Darwin was very worried about how his work would impact his wife, who was a deeply religious woman.