Happy Darwin Day!
Today marks the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Darwin (1809 – 1882), the famous British biologist who proposed the theory of evolution* and who, in 1859, published On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
Darwin’s theory has stood the test of time (not to mention direct observation) to become the predominantly accepted theory as to the origins of new species.
However, the theory of evolution hasn’t been without its fair share of controversy; not only in Darwin’s day (he was reportedly concerned about how his theory would affect his wife’s devout religious beliefs) but even in today’s modern world. Despite the evidence (for example), there are many opponents to the theory of evolution. Evangelical religious groups in the United States are particularly adamant in their refusal to accept the idea that Homo sapiens is an evolved species, which shares a common heritage with apes, our closest relatives. These groups prefer to believe in the teachings of the bible and take the contents (particularly the parts dealing with abiogenesis) literally.
So Darwin’s theory has certainly drawn a line between two camps, with evolutionists on one side and creationists on the other; in effect, pitting science against religion. In a well known legal case, the 1925 Scopes Trial, a teacher in Dayton, Tennessee, was actually convicted and fined $100 for teaching evolution in the classroom, which didn’t reappear in schoolbooks until the 1960s.
Many religious groups would like to see a revamped version of creationism—Intelligent Design (or ID)—taught as part of the school curriculum. The Dover Trial was another legal battle between the proponents of evolution and Intelligent Design, one in which reason prevailed. In 2004, the Dover High School Board in York County, Pennsylvania, inserted a statement into the biology curriculum, which read:
Students will be made aware of the gaps/problems in Darwin’s theory and of other theories of evolution including, but not limited to, intelligent design. Note: Origins of life is not taught.
The plaintiffs in the case were parents of students enrolled in the school, who were against the inclusion of such a statement into the curriculum. The judge eventually ruled in their favour. A BBC dramatization of the events in the Dover Trial can be seen on YouTube.
It’s been 200 years since the birth of the great scientist and 150 years since the Origin of Species was first published. His seagoing journeys on The Beagle took him to far away lands where he first began to speculate on the origin, and continuing evolution, of species. After all this time, his theory has the power to both thrill and offend deeply, depending on which camp you’re in.
The controversy and debates which began so long ago continue today and will, no doubt, be still around 200 years from now when our descendants celebrate the quatercentenary of the birth of Charles Darwin.
[* It should also be noted that at the time Darwin was formulating his theory, similar ideas were also being developed by another British scientist named Alfred Russel Wallace.]
This entry is part of the Blog for Darwin carnival.
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Thanks for posting this GR, the Dover Trial was very interesting – and i for one am glad reason prevailed. Hurray for Darwin Day!