history of evolution Flashcards
philosophical materialism
the universe is matter and energy and metaphysical entities do not exist
methodological materialism
all explanations can only use matter and energy not metaphysical entities, used by scientists
intelligent design
states that some organisms are so well designed that they must be evidence of an intelligent creator
organic evolution
inherited changes in a population eventually lead to changes in species and divergence of new species
gradualism
proposed by Hutton, the idea that the earth’s features were shaped by gradual processes still occurring today
Wallace’s line
divides the Indonesian islands along a deep sea trench separating Australian organisms from Asian organisms because they were unable to cross this line
Darwin’s theories
evolution is descent with modification, and natural selection is the mechanism for evolution