1.3 Darwins theory of evolution illustrates how science works Darwin's Theory of Evolution Darwin's theory of evolution explains and describes how organisms on earth have changed over time and acquired a diversity of new forms. This famous theory provides a good example of how a scientist develops a hypothesis and how a scientific theory grows and wins acceptance Charles Robert Darwin(1809-1882; figure 1.5)was an English naturalist who, after 30 years of study and obser vation wrote one of the most famous and influential books of all time. This book, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or Tbe Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, d a sensation when it ished, and the ideas Darwin expressed in it have played a central role in the development of human thought ever sInce. In Darwins time, most people be lieved that the various kinds of organ isms and their individual structures re sulted from direct actions of the Creator and to this day many people still believe this to be true). Species were thought to be specially created and unchangeable, or immutable. over the course of time. In contrast to these views a number of earlier philosophers had presented the view that living, history of life on hings must have changed during th earth. Darwin proposed a concept he called natural selection as a coherent logical explanation for this process, and he brought his ideas to wide public at tention. His book as its title indicates presented a conclusion that differed FIGURE 1.5 sharply from conventional wisdom. Al- Charles Darwin. This newly rediscovered photograph taken in 1881, the year before though his theory did not challenge the Darwin died, appears to be the last ever taken of the great biologist. existence of a Divine Creator. Darwin argued that this Creator did not simply create things and then leave them fore er unchanged. Instead, Darwin's go expressed Himself through the operation of natural laws tionary theory deeply troubled not only many of his con- that produced change over time, or evolution. These temporaries but Darwin himself. views put Darwin at odds with most people of his time, The story of Darwin and his theory begins in 1831, when who believed in a literal interpretation of the bible and he was 22 years old. On the recommendation of one of his epted the idea of a fixed and constant world. His revolu- professors at Cambridge University, he was selected to serve 10 Part I The Origin of living things10 Part I The Origin of Living Things Darwin’s Theory of Evolution Darwin’s theory of evolution explains and describes how organisms on earth have changed over time and acquired a diversity of new forms. This famous theory provides a good example of how a scientist develops a hypothesis and how a scientific theory grows and wins acceptance. Charles Robert Darwin (1809–1882; figure 1.5) was an English naturalist who, after 30 years of study and obser￾vation, wrote one of the most famous and influential books of all time. This book, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, created a sensation when it was pub￾lished, and the ideas Darwin expressed in it have played a central role in the development of human thought ever since. In Darwin’s time, most people be￾lieved that the various kinds of organ￾isms and their individual structures re￾sulted from direct actions of the Creator (and to this day many people still believe this to be true). Species were thought to be specially created and unchangeable, or immutable, over the course of time. In contrast to these views, a number of earlier philosophers had presented the view that living things must have changed during the history of life on earth. Darwin proposed a concept he called natural selection as a coherent, logical explanation for this process, and he brought his ideas to wide public at￾tention. His book, as its title indicates, presented a conclusion that differed sharply from conventional wisdom. Al￾though his theory did not challenge the existence of a Divine Creator, Darwin argued that this Creator did not simply create things and then leave them forev￾er unchanged. Instead, Darwin’s God expressed Himself through the operation of natural laws that produced change over time, or evolution. These views put Darwin at odds with most people of his time, who believed in a literal interpretation of the Bible and ac￾cepted the idea of a fixed and constant world. His revolu￾tionary theory deeply troubled not only many of his con￾temporaries but Darwin himself. The story of Darwin and his theory begins in 1831, when he was 22 years old. On the recommendation of one of his professors at Cambridge University, he was selected to serve 1.3 Darwin’s theory of evolution illustrates how science works. FIGURE 1.5 Charles Darwin. This newly rediscovered photograph taken in 1881, the year before Darwin died, appears to be the last ever taken of the great biologist