The Origin of Species

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Origin of species
On the origin of species is one of the scientific literature published in the year 1859. The author of the book is Charles Darwin. Arguably, Darwin is the founder of the evolutionary biology. Darwin came from a well-established family of renowned clergymen, doctors, as well as businesspersons. He was an idle young individual but later studied clergy at Cambridge. Darwin advocated for the idea that natural selection together with the preservation of the favorable traits is responsible for the development of species (Holder 43). Throughout the book, Darwin tried to elaborate on the different aspects that bring about variation. These factors include domestication, nature, the struggle for existence, and natural selection. Besides, the book also featured difficulties with Darwin’s idea of the natural selection theory as a source of origin of species (Darwin 32). Therefore, the paper will strive at doing text analysis of the Charles Darwin’s book of origin of species.
Darwin wrote the book during the era of global expansion. The name of the period was Pax Britannica or famous Britain’s imperial century. At that time, Britain was the sole dominant force of Europe as well as the rest of the world, thanks to the diplomatic settlement of the Napoleonic war. Therefore, Britain enjoyed an expanded market for its goods and materials that promoted industrial revolution (Ruse 21). Consequently, commercial, industrial middle classes were able to fund political, artistic, as well as their scientific endeavors.

Darwin was not a professional scientist. However, he believed in the natural theology (Holder 45). Darwin had a particular interest in evolution, and he questioned several things. Most of his questions revolve around religion and culture. He asked the age of the world, the influence of God in the world, and the role played by natural laws in shaping the world (Holder 46).Moreover, during this era, a wave that was seeking freedom and completion swept across Europe and England in particular. From this aspect, the idea of natural selection crossed Darwin’s mind. Therefore, Darwin’s view of the origin of species was because of the influence of both culture and history of England (Ruse 23).
Notably, the work of Charles Darwin shaped the idea of evolution. The world is currently embracing and appreciating the concept of natural selection. According to chapter four of the book, nature naturally select organism that is well suited to survive and pass the desirable qualities to their young ones through hereditary. On the other side, the less adapted ones face natural extinction and fail to give their undesirable traits to their young ones. Therefore, as nature continues to select, new species develop with superior survival qualities than their parents. Despite achieving the hype and success with his work, Darwin had some weaknesses (Ruse 25).
Natural selection is unable to spur innovations. It is because Darwin claimed that the survival of an organism depends on its ability to adapt and survive the harsh worldly conditions. It implies that the body must have innovative instincts. These instincts cannot develop through the accumulation of several phases of innovation. It is because intermediate stages are always not advantageous. Besides, the last two geological periods are responsible for the changes in both the plants and animals. However, species have failed to change between these periods. It is because species between these two periods still have similar features, which disputes the idea of the development of new species. Therefore, Darwin’s view of the origin of species lacks both geographical together with the physiological evidence.
Works cited
Darwin, Charles. “On the Origin of Species using Natural Selection; or, the Preservation of
Favored Races in the Struggle for Life / by Charles Darwin.” 1860.
Darwin, Charles. On the Origin of Species, by Charles Darwin. Watts and Company, 1950.
Holder, Charles Frederick. “Charles Darwin: His Life and Work.” Vol. 3, no. 1, 1891, pp. 43–47.
Ruse, Michael. “Introduction: Charles Darwin and the Origin of Species.” The “Origin” Then and
Now, vol. 2, no. 2, 2013, pp. 21–26.