On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life is a book written for us non-specialist readers by Charles Darwin. Thankfully, the public and scientists alike have come to shorten this title since its publication on  November 24,1859.  It is now called The Origin of Species and is considered by many, if not most, as the foundational work of early evolutionary biology. His knowledge, analysis of empirical observations made by him and his derivative conclusions have been argued over and discussed ever since.  That will teach him for writing a book with such a long title, won’t it?

Like any well argued and continuously discussed work, this introduction to how populations evolve and the process of natural selection has had a profound impact on our society.  Western Civilization would never quite be the same for scientists, philosophers or theologians.   As an extension, it has never quite been the same for anyone else either.

Curiously, prior to Darwin’s publication, the English scientific community was strongly tied to the Church of England.   This troubled the secularists in society who have ever since argued that science and theology must be separated.  I find this curious, because both science and the Christian faith profess to be seeking truth.  The very truth that will set us all free has seemingly chained us to becoming at least somewhat adversarial where no such conflict need actually be taken to the extremes that I have seen in my life.  In my paradigm, I believe there is room for both.  I am a Christian first.  A man deeply interested in science and its attempts to understand all of God’s creation secondly. In either case, as with every case, we should follow the evidence to learn all we can of the conditions we live in and under in this world and maybe listen more to each side rather than choosing one or the other side exclusively.

In any case, it seems that one Charles Darwin took himself a cruise around the world called the expedition of the HMS Beagle.   I would be jealous of this, but, such cruises were not quite as pleasurable as they are today.  During this voyage, Mr. Darwin gained evidence as best he could and came to believe that the diversity of life came about through a common descent.  This has come to be largely accepted.  It has also been controverted by some scientists and theologians alike.  The inference in my mind is that quite a lot of what he has arisen from his work seems very useful.  Like all facts, however, these workable bits of knowledge are only the best facts until such time as they are replaced.  Still, I think there was quite a bit that grew from his thoughts on these subjects.  It might be a good thing to understand what he thought he understood, right?

On the other hand, I think our history, both scientific, socially, and politically have shown how putting perhaps too much emphasis on these thoughts might also lead to darkness that mankind would have been better off without enduring.  By this, I mean such things as socio-engineering projects such as the eugenics movement, Margaret Sanger’s ideas about exterminating various categories of humans she found less than desirable, and such socialist movement derivatives such as the National Socialist Workers Party aka the NAZI Party.  There are other subjects that I similarly find distasteful but to get into discussing these might constitute amount material for a book not a post on a blog.

This all in mind, with the good that has come and the bad that has come, the impact of the Origins of Species is such that it has become a unifying concept to all life sciences.  Whether we agree or disagree with all that is found in this work.  It surely warrants familiarity and understanding.

We will discus more on all of the above as time goes on.  For now, please know that the reading selection for today is Origins of Species, Chapter XI, On Extinction.  This chapter can be read it in its entirety here:

http://www.bartleby.com/11/1102.html

The entire book can be listened to as an audiobook here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq0cowPSK9U

If you believe in evolutionary theory, it is vital that you understand the original statement of this.  Still, you need to understand two things, there are scientific challenges to this and the theory as written on here rests also on the work of others.  It’s important to keep an open mind.  If you dispute this theory, as more than a few do, it’s important to understand the arguments for these thoughts in order to gain understanding but also to sharpen your own thoughts on the subject.  Again, it’s important to keep an open mind.