Question

Explain Darwin's belief that survival is a struggle and how it applies to his theory of natural selection. Evaluate the impact this theory has had on other aspects of culture, such as philosophical beliefs, religious theology, educational theory and literature.

Answer 1

Darwin's theory of evolution is based on five key observations and inferences drawn from them. These observations and inferences have been summarized by the great biologist Ernst Mayr as follows: 1) Species have great fertility. They make more offspring than can grow to adulthood. 2) Populations remain roughly the same size, with modest fluctuations. 3) Food resources are limited, but are relatively constant most of the time. From these three observations it may be inferred that in such an environment there will be a struggle for survival among individuals. 4) In sexually reproducing species, generally no two individuals are identical. Variation is rampant. 5) Much of this variation is heritable. From this it may be inferred: In a world of stable populations where each individual must struggle to survive, those with the "best" characteristics will be more likely to survive, and those desirable traits will be passed to their offspring. These advantageous characteristics are inherited by following generations, becoming dominant among the population through time. This is natural selection. It may be further inferred that natural selection, if carried far enough, makes changes in a population, eventually leading to new species. These observations have been amply demonstrated in biology, and even fossils demonstrate the veracity of these observations. To summarise Darwin's Theory of Evolution; 1. Variation: There is Variation in Every Population. 2. Competition: Organisms Compete for limited resources. 3. Offspring: Organisms produce more Offspring than can survive. 4. Genetics: Organisms pass Genetic traits on to their offspring. 5. Natural Selection: Those organisms with the Most Beneficial Traits are more likely to Survive and Reproduce. Darwin imagined it might be possible that all life is descended from an original species from ancient times. DNA evidence supports this idea. Probably all organic beings which have ever lived on this earth have descended from some one primordial life form. There is grandeur in this view of life that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being evolved. (Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species)

Answer 2

According to Darwin's theory every living organisms will struggle to survive and the strongest will live as it is fittest organism. The survival of fittest is known as natural selection. The fit organisms again has to struggle with changing environment to live. This is a continuous process and leads to evolution.

Step-by-step explanation:

Darwin is known as the father of evolution. He gave different theories of evolution in his book " Origin of Species " . According to this theory, every living organism reproduces the enormous number of organisms with time. Then their population will grow, and the earth will overcrowd with the increase in living creatures. In reality, it does not happen. There is a balance between the number of organisms and nature. He told this is due to the struggle among the organisms and with their environment. Thus the fittest organism will survive and weaker organisms would perish. The limited food, and space results the struggle. Organisms has to struggle with their species, other species and with the environment.The strongest will live and again it has to struggle to retain its position in the nature. This process is called survival of fittest or natural selection. It is a ongoing process as nature is a dynamic entity. The fittest organisms will always survive and live for longer. The old and weak would destroy with time. This has shown in other fields- if a religious thought is old, regid, and harmful for society, with time it would discard by the society. The new scientific research also discard the older theories. The good example is pluto is no longer a planet in our solar system.

Literature is the mirror of our society and with changing time new literature will write to show what is happening in the present society. Thus Darwin's theory of struggle for existence and natural selection has its impact on other aspects.