The Theory of evolution: 150 years afterwards

Authors

  • Crispin Tickell

Abstract

The introduction of the theory of evolution by natural selection marks a fundamental shift in human thinking. Darwin himself said it was like confessing to murder. Afterwards earlier ideas about life in the past crashed one after another. Since 1859 there have been other shifts: from awareness of deep time and space to tectonic plate movement to earth systems science and the Gaia hypothesis. Evolution theory has of course been modified over the years with greater understanding of the mechanics of genetic inheritance and the role of symbiosis in selection. Even if there is still a handful of people who challenge it on religious or crypto religious grounds, very few can now take them seriously. Evolution methodology has applications beyond biology, for example in the field of technology. Above all it is a verifiable interpretation of continuous change in the development of life on Earth, which is in no way contrary to the 2nd law of thermodynamics. As T.H. Huxley, Darwins friend and advocate, once remarked: how stupid it was of him not to have thought of it himself.

Published

2010-01-21

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