- Thomas Malthus observed that plants and animals produce far more offspring than are able to survive. He also noted that humans can overproduce as well as animals. Malthus originally used this information to explain why some people were in poverty. Malthus thought poverty was the expected outcome from humans overproducing. The writers at University of California Museum of Paleontology explain, "Both Darwin and Wallace independently arrived at similar theories of Natural Selection after reading Malthus...they realized that producing more offspring than can survive establishes a competitive environment among siblings, and that the variation around siblings would produce some individuals with a slightly greater chance of survival." Malthus influenced science (even if he did not know it at the time) by laying the ground work for people like Charles Darwin to build off his ideas and form some theories that are still around today.
- Malthus affects the bullet point about preventing organisms from reaching their full potential. He provided the building blocks for this point because he explained that overproducing can lead to poverty. Some parents are physically capable of having more kids, but they cant afford to take care of them so they don't reach their reproducing potential. This is similar to Darwin's point that a lack of resources can keep animals from producing as many young as they are capable of. Malthus said this, but chose different words and did not go as in depth into the subject as Charles Darwin did.
- I do not believe that Darwin could have developed his theory of Natural Selection without the influence of Malthus. In an article written by the University of California Museum of Paleontology they state, "This often quoted passage reflects the significance Darwin affords Malthus in formulating his theory of Natural Selection." The quoted passage they are referring to Darwin admits that after reading Malthus's article is when he understood what became his theory of Natural Selection. It would have been hard to come up with that theory without Malthus's article to get Darwin thinking, this is why I do not believe that Darwin could have developed his theory of natural selection without Malthus's influence.
- The church's likely negative reaction to Darwin's book caused him to stall on its publication. Until Darwin received a letter from Wallace, in which Wallace had developed a theory similar to Darwin's and was going to get credit for some of the best work Darwin had been doing. This prompted Darwin to publish his book. After doing so Darwin Received some criticism as expected. Some of the church was angered because Darwin's book did not agree with the literal interpretation of the bible. However, some Christians were open to understanding his theory.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Historical Influences on Charles Darwin.
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Great background on Malthus' work and I agree with your choice on bullet point. You did a good job of connecting Malthus' work to Darwin's.
ReplyDeleteI always hesitate to grant too much importance of one scientist's work to another's, but I agree that Malthus may be one of those few that were crucial to Darwin's work (I would argue Charles Lyell was the other). Darwin's own quote acknowledges that "ah-ha" moment he experienced when he read Malthus' work and how it impacted his thinking.
Good discussion on how the church impacted Darwin's decision to publish, but what specifically was he afraid of? What repercussions might he and his family have experienced?
Other than that one point, good post.
Hello Cody!
ReplyDeleteI also choose Thomas Malthus for this assignment and would like to share a few more bullet points that I think Malthus had a influence on.
1. All organisms have the potential of reproducing exponentially
2.What is preventing organisms from reproducing at their potential?
3.Resources are limited.
Malthus' “An Essay on the Principle of Population” said that humans, plants and animals are able to overproduce if left unchecked. Due to this overproduction resources will become scarce and many people and animals will die from lack of food.
I like how in your last point you discuss the relation between Darwin and Wallace. I didn't know that Wallace had sent Darwin a letter regarding his work. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Cody,
ReplyDeleteI like and agree with your points about how Malthus impacted Darwin and his works. In addition, I enjoyed the bullet points you choose for Malthus and the way you mentioned Malthus goes on to talk about how Malthus had a large focus on humans, their behaviors, and limitations on overpopulating. The effects and result the church had on Darwin and publishing his book are also nice points.
Hi Cody,
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that Malthus was an influence to scientist even though he was an economist. His theory definitely lives on today because if people produced more children than they can care for then it can and will cause poverty. Because I did this assignment on Malthus as well, I believe Darwin would have been able to come up with the natural selection theory without Malthus because he was already working on beak adaptations and Malthus theory only confirmed his principles.