Charles Darwin's On The Origin Of Species

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Long considered to be one of the heroes of biological science, Charles Darwin came from a lineage that had its fair share of controversy. His grandfather, Erasmus Darwin, was long considered the embarrassment of the family for his borderline atheism – Darwin the younger hardly heard of him until he reached his university education, so abhorrent was his predecessor to his father. However, it would be Charles Darwin who carried the family name into the future with his book detailing the theory of natural selection – On the Origin of Species. The book itself was met with profound criticisms, as many theories are. Darwin was, as modern scientists are now, expected to levy a series of defenses – and so he did. He combatted any foreseeable “difficulty” …show more content…
Whether it be an article, or a book such as Darwin’s detailing a specific theory that required decades of careful research, a key part in one’s defense is being able to anticipate the arguments before the publication, and addressing them within one’s work. Darwin did an excellent job within the first few pages of his concluding chapter of the Origin of Species. In the opening paragraph, he even acknowledges that “many and grave objects may be advanced against the theory of descent.”1 He is not naïve about the possible reception of his theory – his own grandfather is evidence enough of going to the extreme when it comes to leaving God out of science. Darwin also makes a point of noting that it may be difficult to even wrap one’s head around the theory, as it is “analogous with human …show more content…
Firstly, he looked upon the sterilization of ants within a community, when crossbred with other species of ant – even referring back to a chapter in the book. Though one could perhaps argue he is using his own book to argue his point, it could also be seen as a calculated move to get the reader to reread the previous chapter. Secondly, Darwin addresses the matter of geographical distribution of species as another “difficulty” to be raised against his theory. In depth, he discusses the way migration can affect the distribution of a species from place to place, while equally acknowledging that there are things that they are “profoundly ignorant of the many occasional means of transport.”
In his conclusion, Darwin expresses that he himself is “fully convinced” by his own theory, but he knows that more experienced colleagues will not be so easily swayed. His argument in the conclusion is that he does not mean to sway those who surely are more educated on the topic, but hopes to influence those with “flexibility of mind.”4 This phrase is loaded, as it insinuates that those who do not accept it, or cast it aside with very little thought, lack the flexibility that is so regarded in the scientific community as a whole, something addressed by his dear friend Huxley as
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