Charles Darwin, the man who changed our view about the existing of humanity

Version 2

By Vivian Vleesch du Bois | Published 15 December 2011

The survival of the fittest.

There are people who believe that God has created the world in seven days. Some people believes in the evolution theory, furthermore  some  people don’t believe anything because they just don’t know what to believe. I belong to the second group, the evolution theory. 2009 was the year of Charles Darwin, the patriarch of the evolution theory. 150 years ago  Darwin published his book ‘On the Origin of Species’. this book changed our thinking about the genesis of the humanity  and had an unprecedented influence at religion, science, biology and philosophy.

Who was he ?
Charles Darwin was born in 1809 on the 12^th of February  in Shrewsbury. His parents were wealthy and well-connected. His grandfather was one of the leading intellectuals of 18^th century England. Darwin studied in Edinburgh because he planned to follow a medical career. In 1831 he joined a five year expedition on the ship ‘HMS Beagle’. Probably there isn’t any other scientist that has changed so much in the scientific world, what  makes him one of my favourite scientist that has existed.

Finches with different beaks

The beginning of his genius theory 
During his journey with his ship ‘Beagle’ he landed at the Galapagos Islands in South-America. There he investigated differences between finches that  live on the islands. The birds live isolated from each other and because of that, investigation was possible. Darwin discovered that the  finches on different islands also had different properties. On islands where the birds ate  nuts the beak was different than the birds who ate berries on a other island. He discovered that the finches developed good qualities to survive. In his theory he explains that only the best custom organism survives, ‘survival of the fittest’.

Survival of the fittest at humans

I think this theory is also applicable to humans. ‘Handsome people’ are most of the time people who look healthy and young, This is scientifically proven and the same all over the world. people with status are often attractive to. The reason why those people are attractive, is because people unconscious looks for strong qualities so that they can give those qualities at their babies.

From monkey to human

Back to Darwin 

Charles Darwin worked at his theory for 20 years. After publishing his book he was attacked by the church because he negated the theory that God created the world. In his book he wrote that homo sapiens was a form of an animal. It made it seem possible that people might just have evolved, probably from apes. At that century Darwin’s theory was  new and unusual. However, his ideas were accepted and rewarded and did become the new orthodoxy. Darwin died in 1882, he was recognized as one of England’s greatest scientists and I totally agree with that. If you are also interested in his life you can read his book ‘On the origin of Species’ but there are also lots of other books about his journey for sale.


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