1. I believe that Jean-Baptiste Lamark had the most
influence over Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution in a positive way.
2. Jean-Baptiste Lamark believed in evolution in the
sense that nature perfected itself. He believed that with time and favorable conditions
organisms would adapt to fit their surroundings and change in order to cope
better with nature. With the change of nature if there were less of a need to
use a certain organ that organ would shrink or diminish, if there was more of a
need for that organ the organ would grow or become stronger. The physiological
needs of organisms would change in order to fit the environment they are put
in. He briefly mentions natural selection in his findings but does not
entertain it much. He believed that species do not become extinct but rather
perfect themselves into becoming a new species to live more favorably within
their conditions.
3. A. If
the environment changes the traits that or helpful or adaptive to that environment
will be different.
Lamark
helped influence this ideal to Darwin in many ways. He believed that organisms
would change their structure over time in order to better suit the environment.
Lamark believed that nature would perfect itself in order to meet the
conditions it dealt with.
B. In order for traits to evolve and change,
they MUST be heritable.
Lamark’s book
Philosphie Zoologique explained this idea of heredity. He explained how certain
plant and animal forms began to grow different structures within them that did
not match the adult plant or animal. Lamark believed in inheritance from adult
animals that would be able to adapt and change.
C.
Individuals do not evolve. Populations do.
Lamark’s
theory of evolution was based on this ideal. He believed that with time, along
with favorable conditions, nature would evolve. He mentioned that within time
and through reproduction organisms would then begin to evolve. The organisms do
not evolve on their own but through time and reproduction.
4. Darwin could have possibly developed his idea of
natural selection without Lamark’s findings. Lamark did not believe that
species died off, but rather changed and perfected themselves. However he did
mention the theory of natural selection within his writings although it was
only briefly and of not much importance. Even though Lamark’s philosophy on
natural selection was a bit different it had many similarities with Darwin’s
theory. It is possible to me that Darwin had used Lamark’s work as an aid in
his own theory.
5. The attitude of the church made Charles Darwin
hesitant to release his book. At the time people who believed in evolution were
seen as radicals and atheists. Many of them supported Lamarck.s ideas and the
church looked upon this with suspicion. There was a fear of evolution that it
might destroy the church and savagery would break out.
Good start on the explanation of Lamarck's work, but it is a little incomplete. So individuals can change their bodies during their lifetime. For evolution to occur, those changes must be heritable. What does Lamarck say about that? Interesting about the idea on extinction... in great contrast to Cuvier whose entire theory was about extinction. How did Lamarck explain fossils of non-living animals?
ReplyDeleteI agree with your first two bullet points, but with regard to the third, Lamarck actually suggested the opposite. He argued that individuals did evolve during their lifetime and pass those changes onto their offspring. That is one of the areas where he differed from Darwin's theory.
I agree with your caution on saying one way or another whether Darwin could have developed his theory without Lamarck. Lamarck certainly had influence but there were many scientists of that time working on the idea of evolution. Lamarck may have been the first to propose a mechanism, but he was not the only one to offer input.
I agree with your points in general (the issue on "radical atheists" is in question) in the last section but this doesn't answer the guideline points entirely. Darwin delayed for more than 20 years before publishing. Why? What were his concerns? And what role might the church have played in his decision to delay?