Task 4 Flashcards
God, Nature and Time (19 cards)
1
Q
Charles Darwin
A
- 1809-1882
- Contributions: description of new species; importance of cross-fertilization: development of evolutionary theory
- impact on science: focused on similarities among animals and humans; pointed out importance of heredity; developed a theory of how life adapts to changing situations
- origin of species: book, 1959 —> book in which he presented evolutionary theory
2
Q
Darwin‘ Theory
- Right Zeitgeist
A
- theory was bound to be discovered around mid-19th century
- interest in diversity and corresondence between species, discovery of fossils, cultivation of new flower types
3
Q
Darwin‘ Theory
- Cross-Fertilization and Natural Selection
A
- noticed that many plants were capable of self-fertilization, but they avoided it —> they chose cross-fertilization
- natural selection = process in Darwin‘s evolutionary theory by which the environment results in the continuation and multiplication of organisms with certain genetic features (favorable features) and hinders the reproduction of those with other genetic features (unfavorable features)
- survival of the fittest —> term introduced by Herbert Spencer to describe outcome of natural selection
- natural selection = process in Darwin‘s evolutionary theory by which the environment results in the continuation and multiplication of organisms with certain genetic features (favorable features) and hinders the reproduction of those with other genetic features (unfavorable features)
4
Q
Darwin‘ Theory
- Dilution Problem
A
- Darwin failed to explain ‚how a single new plant or animal could come to dominate the rest‘
—> absence of knowledge of genetics
5
Q
Common Misunderstandings of Evolutionary Theory
A
- mistaken belief that there is a direction in the genetic changes that cause the initial variation
- mistaken belief that evolution results in better or stronger organisms
6
Q
Darwin‘s Influence: Galton
A
- Francis Galton (1822-1911)
- first to examine implications of Darwin‘s theory for human functioning
- tried to find evidence for heredity of animal and human features, in particular intelligence
—> not very successful, but inspired subsequent generations to address issue of intelligence testing
7
Q
Browne: Beginnings
- Darwin‘s life
A
- born in upper middle-class society
- began studying medicine —> did not like it
- enjoyed independent practical natural history work a lot more
- Sedgwick taught him geology —> introduced him to the rationale for sound scientific decisions
8
Q
Browne: Beginnings
- his voyage on the Beagle
A
- offered a voyage around the world on the Beagle from Henslow, a geologist and friend
- made large collections —> dissected and observed under the microscope in his cabin, kept a lot of notes —> findings from voyage starting point for all his views
- concluded that all humans were one species
- very shaped by Lyell, who provided Darwin with a basis for his future work on evolution
9
Q
Darwin Now!
- Darwin
- Global Networks
A
- five-year journey: a lot of discoveries
- imagined the working of a slow selection —> most creatures dying before they could reproduce, only a few giving rise to offspring
- transmutation —> convinced that different species could start by one earlier variety changing into another
10
Q
Darwin Now!
- essential parts of his theory
A
- one reason his ideas have endured is their simplicity
- three essential parts:
(1) inheritance = when individuals in a population reproduce, the new generation must resemble their parents
(2) variation = resemblance between generation must be close, but not perfect, so that each generation includes new variations in characteristics
(3) selection = there must be a link between some of the new variations and the chances that an individual will be better able to survive and reproduce
11
Q
Darwin Now!
- reactions on theories
A
- reactions: strong opinions —> very different ways
- some took only parts
- religion: Darwin‘s approach could be combined with life given by a creator
- some see it as basis for Social Darwinism (=‚survival of the fittest‘)
12
Q
Darwin Now!
- evidence for evolution - THEN and NOW
A
THEN:
- slow appearance (and disappearance) of species
- close comparisons fo fossils, body plans and bone structures of different living species; growing embryos
- distribution fo species
- life of islands
NOW:
- biological discoveries —> DNA; genes
- spread of bacteria that can resist antibiotics (‚evolution in action‘)
13
Q
Darwin Now!
- Evolution and Religion
- Appearance of new Species
A
- separation —> one part of population is segregated —> population will change enough to become unable to interbreed
- genetic changes —> small differences in behavior (e.g. eating habits) which can gradually increase
14
Q
E-Reader: Darwin‘s Role in Psychology
A
- comparative psychology
- research on individual differences
- key theories that guide much of modern psychological research: natural selection and sexual selection
- social sciences will eventually be darwinized
- Darwin‘s principles were combined with theoretical advances offering by geniculate selection and inclusive fitness theory
- authors stated that it is time for comparative psychologists to move beyond a faith-based belief in ‚mental continuity‘ between all species
15
Q
Darwin, Dover, and Intelligent Design
- Darwin‘s words and their meaning
A
- instead of „evolution“ (negative connotation) —> „transmutation“
- „gradual“ change more step-like for Darwin
16
Q
Darwin, Dover, and Intelligent Design
- „Intelligent design“ and its implications
A
- newest version of „bible-science“ or „creation-science“
- advocates want supernatural propositions to be considered as part of science
- arguements:
- „irreducible complexity“ = if you find a complex structure that, if you removed one of its parts, it would no longer work, then you must admit that this structure and its function could not have evolved my natural means —> nonsense
- „specified complexity“ = attempt to quantify the unlikelihood of irreducible complexity; if you can rule out the possibility that a structure evolved either by natural processes or chance, using probability theory, you must accept that the structure was specially designed
- proponents avoid publishing in scientific journals
- various proponents accept different things
- wants remove naturalism (which they think is atheistic) from all of America‘s life —> goal: theocracy
17
Q
Paul: Darwin, Social Darwinism and Eugenics
- Darwin
A
- most scientists see social Darwinism as gross interpretation of Darwin‘s theory
- 1864: Wallace argued that selection could cause rationality and altruism to spread, because it would focus on mental and moral qualities rather than physical ones
- hypothesized that talent and character traits that would influence success were passed on to offspring from parents
- since ‚morally weaker‘ and poor people were producing more offspring —> Darwin became concerned with question of evolution going backwards
- Darwins‘ ideas oh wo to solve these issues other than by natural selection: moral qualities could be more advanced by habit, reason, learning and religion
18
Q
Paul: Darwin, Social Darwinism and Eugenics
- Social Darwinism
A
- popularized in 1940 by American historian Hofstadter, it was usually used to biologically justify ‚laissez-faire‘ behavior at home and colonialism in rest of the world; appealed to social thinkers and middle class
- many advocates of ‚laissez-faire‘ rejected natural selection and favored Lamarck‘s principle ( = organisms acquire new characteristics via active adaptation to their environment)
19
Q
Paul: Darwin, Social Darwinism and Eugenics
- From Darwin to Hitler
A
- in Germany, response to Darwin was very enthusiastic
- many different versions of writings were easy to make, since his writings were ambiguous and have many metaphors
- germans went in racist direction with Darwin‘s writings
