Question

1. Describe how the scientific view of nature changed from classical “essentialism” to modern evolutionary theory.

2. What are the major differences between Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection and Lamarck’s inheritance of acquired characteristics?

3. What is the significance of “The Evolutionary Synthesis”? What two major scientific ideas (fields) did it unify?

Answer 1

The notion of change through evolution is at the opposite ends with the notion of constancy in essentialism.

According to Lamarck species undergo changes in response to changes in their environment. For example, as tree bagan to grow taller so did the neck of Giraffe. It talks about  internal vital force in all organisms. It emphasises on new needs or desire which is capable of producing new structures and change habits of the organism. Darwin on the other hand, did not believe in the internal vital force. Also, needs and/ or desires does not factor in his theory.

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection and Gregor Mendel's theory of genetics combined together to give “The Evolutionary Synthesis”.