Big Questions: Nature of Scientific Inquiry
Charles Darwin's Evolution (#102)
Charles Darwin put forward his theory of evolution in 1858, at a time when most people believed in the Creation. Central to the theory is the fact that species change, a notion that was completely contrary to the generally held belief – eloquently argued by William Paley – that all organisms were created by God and are unchangeable. During his famous voyage on the Beagle, Darwin found evidence that species do change over time. But how does this happen? Reading Malthus, Darwin saw how competition between individuals could lead to evolution through a process of natural selection. [19 minutes]
This episode has not aired in the past few months on Iowa Public Television.
Series Description: It's a slow painstaking business unlocking the secrets of the universe. But occasionally an inspired individual makes sense out of confusion – and comes up with a theory or invention that changes the world and our understanding of how it works. This series, enthusiastically presented by Adam Hart David, focuses on the lives, works and struggles of scientists who have made these great intellectual leaps.
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