Tag Archives: Darwin

Darwin’s Population Limits

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One of the key arguments that Darwin makes in his On the Origin of Species concerns the Struggle for Existence. Individuals are constantly locked in competition, whether with other members of the same species, different species that may occupy the same or similar ecological niche, or environmental factors. Those organisms that survive then reproduce and pass their traits onto the next generation. Those that do not win out die, and if this concept is applied to entire species, it may result in extinction due to a failure to adapt to changing conditions.

The most important aspect of the struggle involves the environmental limits that all organisms must face. These restrictions, which encompasses resources such as food, predator and parasite interactions, and climate, drive natural selection. Without these forces at work, Darwin’s theory would not stand. Since abundance reduces conflict while scarcity leads to competition, nature provides the pressure that fuels the engine of evolution.

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Darwin

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Upon reading the introduction of the Origin of Species my perception of this type of literature has completely changed. I was expecting dry scientific language, and was pleasantly surprised because this is such an incredibly beautiful subject that deserves to be presented as such.I find it fascinating that Charles Darwin was able to present his ideas in such a clear and beautiful manner; I have read countless textbooks that do not treat the material in this way, and it comes across as very boring and difficult to process. Treating a topic as complex and grand as Natural Selection with literary artisism, allows the ideologies to become tangible. Explaining genetics in terms of numbers, chemical equations, or large words is not as impactful as equating it to something that resonates with the spirit of humanity. Darwin balances his scientific ideas with perfectly beautiful metaphors that truly capture the essence of his ideas. This reflects the idea that nature is the driving and supporting force for not only art, but science as well and that the two can and must coexist. Darwin’s masterful use of language shines a beautiful light on science and allows someone like me (who is not scientifically inclined but still enjoys and appreciates the field immensely) to understand these concepts. The Origin of Species did not read like 1850’s scientific research, but instead it was poetic and more beautiful that I had ever imagined it could be. It is also outstanding that all of this research was done without the use of genetic testing; leaving all observing and data collecting to the eye. The fact that Darwin was able to construct such an incredible theory through observation is incredible, and proves that the natural world has much to teach us if only we open our eyes. This is something that is often overlooked in today’s society, even the observation of people can prove informational. I do, however, wonder what man might have been able to figure out on his own without technology and modern day science? Is observation enough to understand the world that we live in? One problem many people had and continue to have with Darwin is that he was uncovering things many thought to be better left unknown; while this is a completely valid point that still rings true today, it is also engrained in mans nature to be curious and question the universe.

Tree of Metaphors

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In Charles Darwin’s book, On the Origin of Species, I was very intrigued by a passage that Darwin wrote comparing a tree to life and its “struggle for existence.” I really enjoyed this passage because it was quite different. I was not used to reading a scientific novel that had used metaphors before. I enjoyed this passage because it painted a picture of what Darwin must have been thinking during the time he was coming up with his theory on natural selection. This tree metaphor that Darwin uses helps explain natural selection and is also a good indicator of what he was imaging before he drew his “tree of evolution.” Continue reading →

Darwin’s Creation Story

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I have always assumed On the Origin of Species to be a purely scientific book.  I had never considered what literary tools might be at work in complex manners within the text.  However, after our discussion in class, I now realize that metaphor is a major literary device used within the text to simplify and intensify the ideas presented.

The metaphors Darwin uses help to put his complex ideas into more relatable terms and ideas.  This was clever and useful of him as he published On the Origin of Species because it was published for the general public, not specifically for other scientists.  Perhaps these metaphorical aids were part of the reason that it was and is still so popular?  Some of the major metaphors that Darwin uses are the metaphors of the tree, of war/struggle, and of an entangled bank or web.  Most of these metaphors seem to have persisted through the years and are familiar to us today.  Many people have seen pictures of the branching tree of species that Darwin describes and many of us have heard the term “struggle for existence”.  The problem is that many people have not read On the Origin of Species.  This is a problem because while they hear the general ideas from other people, they interpret the broad ideas in ways that Darwin did not intend.  This is most likely because of the lack of information they receive from others compared to if they would read Darwin’s ideas straight from the text (which is much more in detail then what they are exposed to). If people read On the Origin of Species, they would have much more of a firm comprehension of Darwin’s ideas of evolution and the ecosystem, than if they simply saw a diagram of a tree in the manner he described.  This is not only because of the great detail Darwin uses in describing the metaphors, but also the text sparks ideas and feelings through the use of intense language.

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Silent Spring

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According to Rachel Carson in Silent Spring, “the most alarming of all man’s assaults upon the environment is the contamination of air, earth, rivers, and sea with dangerous and even lethal materials” (6). Carson’s argument against the use of pesticides “confronted us with the chemical corruption of the globe and called on us to regulate our appetites- a truly revolutionary stance- for our self-preservation” (XIX).

Today, more than ever, we need to follow Carson’s advice and take a stand against companies like Monsanto (one of the largest biotechnology agricultural corporations in the world) who are creating genetically modified crops that are able to withstand their own pesticides. Meaning, that instead of finding an alternative to using pesticides all together, they decided to create crops that can withstand the pesticide so they wouldn’t lose any precious money in pesticide sells. These genetically modified crops are known as Round-Up ready crops and account for 90% of soybeans and 70% of corn and cotton grown in the United States.

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