Chapter 3 of the Origin of Species was extremely interesting, especially the part in which Darwin talks in depth about the Struggle for Existence. He stated, “…We do not always bear in mind, that though food may now be superabundant, it is not so at all seasons of each recurring year.” I found that to be very thought provoking because I truly figured out how this lends itself to Natural Selection and variation among species. Because there is always a different atmosphere among organisms each year, whether it is because of overpopulation or just a lack of resources and food, the need to adapt is also different each year. As Darwin was saying, when more individuals are produced than can possibly survive, there is going to be greater competition and, therefore a “struggle for existence.” Only the most fit, the ones most able to adapt, of animals will then survive, and they will pass their genes to their offspring, in the hopes that one day there will be a superior and near perfect variation of that species in existence. Of course, the animals don’t actually think this way, but it is part of their genetic goal to survive to reproduce.

However, when did ‘struggle’ turn into the substantially more irresolute ‘competition’? Competition is more politically correct than the term struggle is and relates more to different species trying to survive to reproduce and pass on their adaptable traits to offspring for several generations. Struggle is usually used to state that an animal needs to fight for its existence and has an extremely difficult time surviving to reproduction. Competition between individuals of the same species would be a more appropriate term because there are several more factors that affect an individual’s chance of survival. It is a broader term, and can now relate to several types of animal behaviors that lead to reproduction.

On another note, Darwin uses the words struggle and competition interchangeably, even though they are some-what separate ideas. For example, in my own words Darwin basically said, “Species evolve and form from the variation between individuals and the struggle of life.” But on the other hand he also said, “All organic beings are exposed to severe competition.” He does not distinguish the difference between struggling and fighting for survival through competition. In these two examples, Darwin states that species evolve because they must struggle to survive and at one point in every individual’s lifetime they are involved in intense competition for survival.

Would Darwin’s idea of existence is a struggle be applied to humans? Do humans compete for existence by fighting one another? And if so, wouldn’t the higher class win due to Darwin’s idea that a species that has adapted more to their environment will most likely survive longer than one who hasn’t? Lastly, if Darwin’s idea of the Struggle makes evolution seem like a competition, are there ways, in this current generation, we as humans are cheating or giving up? Can we assume promiscuity, rape, and test-tube babies in this generation are cheating in this “competition” and possibly creating the struggle harder for those pursuing natural selection? Those without children, or born with sexual differences, are they giving up in the competition?