Darwin and His explanation for the Origin of Life

Charles Darwin’s Influence on the Origin of Life

Charles Darwin had a significant influence on the use of science to explain the beginning of life. Darwin uses his idea of natural selection to explain how life came to be. But when he describes the origin of life from a creationist perspective, Darwin defies this hypothesis. According to Darwin, each species was independently made by God. He gives a theological perspective on life and an alternative to scientific thinking regarding the beginning of life through his logic. Darwin used the scientific idea of natural selection to first explain the origin of life. Later, he based his explanation of how life came to be on the notion that God made life. The dependence on God in explaining life’s origin render Darwin’s version of life to appear creationist.

Darwin and His Explanation for the Origin of Life

Darwin discovered the theory on the Origin of Species in 1859 where he explained life using scientific perspective. This theory gives an account of the way species came into existence through constant evolution. Additionally, Darwin explains that God separately created every species challenging his original account of life. Darwin approves evolution of species stems from natural selection, but his overreliance on the notion of selection as stipulated in his theory of natural selection derives criticisms particularly in individuals who believe that God is the creator of life.

Darwin’s “Tree of Life” and the Origin of Diversity

Darwin used the concept of a tree of life to explain his theory of evolution and the origin of diversity and new varieties. The explanation found in the tree of life indicate that the extrapolations represent the many generations that arise from a common ancestor. According to Darwin, the affinities of all human beings arising from the same class can be traced back to a common descendant. The argument in the theory of natural selection is illustrated by the tree of life which shows the interconnectedness by the descent of organisms as well as their success and failure in the history of life. His choice on the use of tree of life to indicate a common descendant depicts contradiction to the theological theory explained in Genesis.

Darwin’s View on Natural Selection and Variations

In theory, the origin of life, Darwin tries to illustrate how natural selection could account for the biological diversity and challenging the traditionally held belief that God is the creator of the universe. Darwin expresses confidence through explaining that natural selection explains the varieties arising from a particular species. In his view, Darwin admits that the “more distinct the forms are which we may consider, by so much the arguments fall away in force” (Cosans 364). According to Darwin, if two organisms have greater variations in traits, it can, therefore, be deduced that they did not descend from the same ancestor. Indeed, Darwin believes that the descent theory does comprise of individuals from the same class. Darwin even further gives support to his claim by ascertaining that members of every class typically share developed characteristics. Darwin claims that “intermediate fossils exist and that earlier” adaption of humans is evident from the rudimentary organs (Cosans 364).

Challenges to Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection

Furthermore, he mentions that embryos depict similar patterns given that they originate from the same ancestor. According to Darwin’s reasoning, “animals have descended from at most only four or five progenitors, and plants from an equal or lesser number” (Cosans 364). He further contends that the similarities evident in animals and plants provide a suggestion that there is a likelihood that organic beings that have not lived in the world depict to have come from a similar “primordial form” and mentions that life was originally “breathed.” Evidently, his mentioning of life been “breath” gives a strong reference to Genesis 2:7 where it is written that God “breathed” life into the nostrils of the initial humans on earth. This factor thus draws criticism to the natural selection theory and makes his argument to be faulty, therefore anticipating a less receptive audience.

Darwin’s Creationist Account and Unity of Life

Also, the underlying idea of Darwin’s argument that the primordial organism was in existence a long time ago makes his work questioned on theological grounds. In other words, if these diversities were accumulated at a rapid changing rate, it means that it would have taken an incredibly long time for every organism to leave descendants. This also draws dilemma to diversity evident in plants and animals. Darwin’s belief held the majority of the history of life on account of accumulation has been tremendously slow. His account of natural selection, therefore, requires a diversity of all kinds to be true. The rate of change in the early history of the earth of life was slower due to the fewer forms and simplicity of life depicted at that time. Also, due to the few forms and the simple structure of life, the rate of change is likely to have been remarkably slower, and thus the diversity explained in his theory of natural selection does not hold. Undoubtedly, the reason for diversity, in theory, can only be said to be true after enough diversity had been accumulated and therefore led to the variations in the ancestors causing the differences in human beings. Darwin’s belief that the regular generation succession has never undergone alterations develops challenging arguments from the audience.

Darwin’s Rhetorical Phenomena in Nature and Severity

Considering his creationist account, Darwin believed that “each species has been independently created” (Cosans 365). He further noted that all life forms could be grouped into one primary system. Undisputedly, even though Darwin did believe that all human life is united through a common ancestor, his creation account of life refutes this idea. The argument of God’s creation does not explain the unity of life. His contradiction significant challenges the audience. Darwin’s creationist beliefs hold that every form of life is unique and special. He accounts for the life diversity basing on the idea of natural selection that explains the existing variations. However, it is also evident that his creationist account of life illuminates that life came into existence from the creation of God who created the “progenitors of the varieties of organisms” (Cosans 365). Although the audience can tell that Darwin believed that human life came into existence once, his faith in the creationist theory betrays his thinking. This means that if Darwin could accept the idea that life culminated from more than one existence, his theoretical framework stipulated denoted the Origin of Species could have lost its meaning. To the audience, it fails to be clear to which extent would diversity be explained by the theory of natural selection. Clearly, “the multiple origins of organisms disrupt the grand unity of life in his theory of the origin of species” (Cosans 365). Undoubtedly, Darwin could have extended his theory of descent and make an inclusion of both animals and plants owing to his philosophical perspective. His argument in the theory of origin is asserting that all the living things descended from a similar ancestry disapproves his speculations made on theological grounds in the 1830s. In explaining the transmutation of species, Darwin based his arguments on theological meaning that transmutation followed fixed the natural law.

Rhetorical Nature and Severity of Darwin’s Theory

In his setting and context, Darwin found a way of communicating natural selection as a primary engine that drove the change in the biological systems in the current world. It is manifested that Darwin expressed doubts in his theory of natural selection. The inevitable skepticism of Darwin’s ideas fueled a form of empiricism in modern scholars. To understand Darwin’s rhetorical phenomena in his nature and severity requires a clear understanding of the central arguments stemming from his theory (Campbell 208). Darwin states that organism varies and that the variations are inherited by the offspring. This perspective is true to current occurrences where many offspring are seen to have traits inherited from their parents. His view that organisms produce more offspring that cannot be able to survive. Together with the idea that averagely, the offspring that vary more sharply in a given direction and favored by the environmental factors are likely to survive and propagate is heavily manifested in the current global world. According to Darwin, the favorable variations, therefore, lead to accumulation in population through the process of natural selection. He presents that the origin is responsible for pulling together the various strands of thinking to integrate exposition. In Darwin’s account inheritance and adaptation lead to natural selection.

Rhetorical View in Darwin’s Theory

Darwin’s premise illustrates the adaptive changes of the ever-present variations of traits in living things as well as the view of natural selection. His interpretation that natural selection guides the survival of a given organism basing on the beneficial traits is one of his underlying in rhetorical arguments. According to Darwin, the origin of species is evident to the world not only with the unfamiliarity of the evolutionary theory but also through the immersion in the religious philosophy and secure his premise the thought of omniscient creator. Darwin’s rhetorical view derives weight that evaluates the scales of western creation primarily form the theological perspective. The scientific integrity presented in the origin of species theory abides by the quality of evolution. Darwin derived his victory of imagination from the underlying idea of rhetorical ancestry. Certainly, the rhetorical ancestry in Darwin’s theory proves to be a visionary conquest having its foundation in the theological and lyrical artistry together with his persuasion.

Tone and Language in Darwin’s Theory

The tone and language of Darwin which he uses in his theory shape the colloquial, poetic and theological perspectives. He utilizes language such as “wonderful” and “beautiful” enabling him to speak to the audience effectively. The words that the theory employs magnetize and radicalize his humanity and pleasant explanation. Also, the use of key words such as “survival,” “variation,” “competition.” Notably, the language used in theory is mobilized persuasively. Furthermore, placement of religious ideas in the profound intersection in his claims embed the concepts of natural selection and create them to appear in a more figurative language. The traits that are adaptive provide a rhetorical gesture locating power in the “omniscient” thinking which is parallel to the Genesis story. Darwin utilizes the rhetorical language in proposing a novel science paradigm coupled with newer form of prevalent understanding of the relation between nature and humanity. Darwin’s rhetorical bridge in considering his two separate audiences allows his message to traverse both the scientific and religious mindsets in alluring terminologies. There is also persuasive imagery narrative in his work of the tree of life which renders the theory a metaphor in his entire book. This narrative asserts with the narrative of trees of nature which depict a predominant description for the mechanism of evolution from the historical point of view. The captivating metaphoric view gives a clarification and appealing aesthetic perspective to numerous scientific observations in his work. The metaphor of the tree of life is also parallel to the biblical perspective which affirms the evolution in a natural setting.

Conclusion

Darwin had a magnificent contribution in explaining the origin of life. Through his theory of the origin of species and an account of the natural section, his scientific explanation of life is attractive to many audiences. However, the contradiction he creates through his creationist theory draws divergent views making his first theory faulty. However, they both have an account to the origin of life. Notably, through his poetic weaving in all his accounts of creation, he adds emphasis to the underlying subject and entertains the reader with a lyrical and visual narrative. These factors have significantly strengthened the message in his theories bearing a strong witness to the literary influence in explaining scientific thoughts.

Works Cited

Campbell, John Angus. “Why Was Darwin Believed? Darwin’s Origin And The Problem Of Intellectual Revolution.” Configurations, vol. 11, no. 2, 2003, pp. 203-237. Johns Hopkins University Press, doi:10.1353/con.2004.0016.

Cosans, Chris. “Was Darwin A Creationist?.” Perspectives In Biology And Medicine, vol. 48, no. 3, 2005, pp. 362-371. Johns Hopkins University Press, doi:10.1353/pbm.2005.0071.