Today marks the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin, the co-discoverer of one of the greatest scientific explanations in history: why life is so complex, so wondrous and so diverse. Why life can survive against all manner of odds, and why some forms of life die off, never to be heard of again.
Darwin’s theory, properly called the theory of Evolution through Natural Selection, has not remained constant since it’s publication 150 years ago. Advances in our understanding of heredity, of genetics and of sexual selection have acted to improve our understanding of the ways in which living organisms adjust to the vagaries of nature and each other. The theory is being constantly refined and improved, but one thing is absolutely certain: The supporting evidence continues to flow in. For biologists, geologists, biochemists and a whole class of scientists, it acts like a map, allowing them to better understand what is going on, providing great clues as to the underlying reasons for particular phenomena, and governing the course of research worldwide.
To some, the theory may seem harsh, hopeless and random. It is too far an intellectual leap, directly challenging the core of their beliefs. This is a huge pity, because it’s explanatory power reveals so much about our origins and the diversity in nature that we see every day. It is no more a moral codebook than the theory of gravity. It provides us with an understanding of the world as it is, not how we would like it to be. When we strive to make the world a better place for all of us, surely we are enrichened by this knowledge rather than denying it outright?
So today I celebrate Darwin Day, remembering not just Darwin, but also Wallace and all the scientists who came after him. Thank you for all the efforts you have made.
Passive Impressions 
Purely coincidental I picked up the package with my copy of “on the origin of species” from the post office on my way home from work today. 🙂
Hi dragonqueen, I hope you enjoy your read. Can you imagine what this argument would have felt like to a Victorian mind? Electrifying.
I like this clear, easily understood explanation. I find it sad and hard to understand how people can be so blinded by faith that they still don’t understand anything about science and believe impossible things like a 6000 year old planet.
We celebrated Darwin day here too.
Hi Sharon, I just looked at your blog entry. It would want to be some boat alright – the current estimate of speciation is that there is between 5 million and 100 million different species of living things on the planet!
What I find with the Origin (I recently read Steve Jones’ modern update of it, Almost like a Whale) is the clarity and logic with which he puts his case together. The logic is unassailable. To deny evolution as a reality you might as well reject logic too, unless of course you don’t read his case for evolution or don’t bother to understand it. If that is the case you can say all sorts of rubbish.