Darwinism as a New Worldview
July, 1837, in Darwin's worldview
nature and human order were altered:
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Static becomes dynamic: fixity of species was replaced
by horizontal and vertical differentiation of species.
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Geologically "deep time" became critically necessary
of far-reaching scientific importance.
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Population thinking replaced typology with respect
to taxonomy.
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Humans placed "into the stream of animal evolution."
"Yet, the causes of evolution were a complete mystery to him." Ernst Mayr
What is a Darwinism?
What is revolutionary about these ideas?
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Importance of individual arises from the fact that organisms
are the focus of selective pressure.
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Malthus' ideas on differential potential between fertility
and resources was applied to selection.
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Common descent leads to immense variation though horizontal
and vertical speciation.
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Survival of the most fortunate, since chance or fortune drives
natural selection.
