Darwin’s argument againsts Lamarck’s and Paley’s concepts

We remember the name of Charles Darwin each time we talk about the theory of evolution. Very few of us know that that Darwin didn’t discover this theory himself but collected a lot of evidence supporting this theory and also developed a mechanism, which described the process of evolution. In reality, the theory of evolution originates from the ancient Greece and was studied and developed by many scholars during the human history. Darwin’s theory of natural selection is a part of more general evolution theory. Important part of his work consist of the arguments, he gives against the prominent theories of the past. In my paper I will center on the arguments Darwin adduced against the Paley’s and Lamarck’s theories.

When studying at Cambridge, Darwin discovered Paley’s theologian works. They had a deep influence on him but finally he came to reject the providential explanation of life origin developed by Paley. Darwin studied and outgrew Paley’s theory he admired during the first years of his study. Paley, one of the most famous British theologians explained the creation of immutable species by God’s will. His argument was profound and powerful, but his theory was prejudiced by Darwin’s theory. In his works, Darwin called Paley’s theory unconvincing and arguable. In his Autobiography he wrote “The old argument of design in nature, as given by Paley, which formerly seemed to me so conclusive, fails, now that the law of natural selection has been discovered. We can no longer argue that, for instance, the beautiful hinge of a bivalve shell must have been made by an intelligent being. like the hinge of a door by man” (Darwin, p. 87). Many scientists, who share Darwin’s evolutionary theory call his arguments against Paley persuasive and considered that Darwin defeated Paley’s arguments of divine origin. Neal Gillespie, faithful follower of Darwin’s teaching in his book “Charles Darwin and The Problem of Creation” underlines the meaning of Darwin’s argument against Paley’s theory. “It has been generally agreed (then and since) that Darwin’s doctrine of natural selection effectively demolished William Paley’s classical design argument for the existence of God.” (Gillespie, 83). He also stated, that despite some sympathy to Paley’s argument Darwin expressed in the beginning of his research, “In the final analysis, Darwin found God’s relation to the world inexplicable; and a positive science, one that shut God out completely, was the only science that achieved intellectual coherence and moral acceptability.” (Gillespie, 83).

Arguing Paley’s theory of creation, Darwin underlines separation between science and religion. He stated that their correlation wasn’t possible and couldn’t be used as a mean to explain the origin of spices. Darwin loudly argues Paley’s special creation doctrine contrasting it to his own doctrine of natural selection. Darwin is convincing in his arguments and gives unshakable proofs supporting his theory. He builds his argument in such a way that all those who study it could become sure that the element of design in natures possesses the dominant role. Proving this argument naturally leads to the conclusion that the origin of nature is changeable and mutable, which proves Darwin’s’ thesis. Very soon after its appearance, Darwin’s theory of origin of spices replaced Paley’s natural theology and found a lot of admires all over the world. Paley’s arguments could be popular in the beginning of the 19th century when no worthy alternative could be found to contrast to his theory of special creation. Biology was presented as a fragmentary science during that time. It couldn’t provide any unifying concepts, which would be able to contradict the theological explanations. The number of scientist, who entered the scene in the middle of the 19th century have changed the functions and the face of this science forever. The idea of evolution by natural selection gave a worthy alternative to the theological perspective and very soon became dominant not only for scientists, but also for wide public. A lot of people believed Darwin’s theory about naturally driven evolutionary process.
Another important essence of Darwin’s works consists of his argument against Lamarck’s theory of the inheritance of acquired characteristics. Lamarck developed a theory of the mutability of species through the use and the action of environment. He stated that spices change over time, climbing the ladder of life. He regarded the evolution as a progress from more simple forms to more complex ones. Darwin never totally rejected Lamarck’s theory. He found it incomplete, though. Darwin agreed Lamarck’s ideas of progress and evolutions of the living creatures. He also agreed that the purpose of these changes could be the better adapting to the environment. Darwin took Lamarck’s idea of the development of organisms from simpler to more complicated forms and created his own theory of evolution in contrast to Lamarck’s doctrine of growth of adapted complexity. Darwin argued Lamarck’s reasons of spices mutability conditioned by the need to meet the changes of the surrounding.

In his On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection Darwin gave convincing arguments against Lamarck’s theory. “It is very difficult to decide how far changed conditions, such as of climate, food, etc., have acted in a definite manner. There is reason to believe that in the course of time the effects have been greater than can be proved by clear evidence.” (Darwin, The Origin of Species, p. 139). Darwin didn’t agree with Lamarck’s that heritable adaptation was a result of natural influence on the organism. He also argued Lamarck’s ideas of predetermined character of evolution. Though Lamarck’s theory was a constructive one, he couldn’t completely get read of providential tendencies of Paley. So he states that everything good acquired by the organism during its life is represented in their descendants through reproduction. This concept got the name the inheritance of acquired characters and we mostly remember Lamarck for this theory.

“All that nature has caused individuals to gain or lose by the influence of the circumstances to which their race has been exposed for a long time, and, consequently, by the influence of a predominant use or disuse of an organ or part, is conserved through generations in the new individuals descending from them, provided that these acquired changes are common to the two sexes or to those which have produced these new individuals”. (Lamarck, p. 166). Darwin disapproves Lamrack’s theory. He proved that not all the changes are adopted by the descendants. Darwin stated that adaptation characteristics change naturally, without any influence from above. Putting forward his arguments, he made the last step away from the wise creator, putting all the responsibilities to nature. He disagrees Lamarck’s theory that heritable adaptations result the way surrounding influences the organism. He saw these changes as accidental and purposeless variations. He stressed on the meaning of evolution, in contrast to creationist approach. Darwin didn’t agree with Lamarck’s theory that changes once acquired by the individual are passed to all generations. He stated that genes are not changed but the most appropriate individuals are selected by nature to survive and reproduce and this gradually changes the characteristics of the whole spice. In order to support his thesis, Darwin gives examples, facts of natural history, contrasts and comparisons. Darwin’s language is unique and very exact at the same time. Sometimes he uses satire and irony to make his writings more lively and interesting. He creates picturesque combinations and bright images to make the readers understand his argument. For each argument he uses a lot of proofs and evidence in order to support his thesis. Darwin did a big job collecting data, making studies and researches and preparing arguments in order to create his own concept of evolutionary theory. He skillfully used good experience of the other scientists who researched in this area and found their counterparts and proved them with his strong arguments.


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