Evolutionary thinking 5

Question 1

instead of evolution, what terms did Darwin use?

Answer 1

• common descent
• natural selection

Question 2

Why did Darwin spend so long before he published his results? why did he look for so many ‘negative instances’ ?

Answer 2

• He spent much of his time before publishing generating predictions and testing his theories
• he wanted to ensure his theory did not have any gaps or holes, that it had solid proof, as his theory would disrupt religious views

Question 3

How did Darwin’s theory disrupt European society and the views of Aristotle?

Answer 3

• still commonly thought that humans were unique and privileged, this though carried from Aristotle
• but Darwins theory destroys this view, and states our lineage is no more or less adapted than any other on the planet
• humans are NOT special

Question 4

What is Wallace’s line?

Answer 4

Represents a division between 2 different communities that evolved in isolation that then migrated together (geologically) when sea levels dropped