Final answer:
Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection asserts that species are not progressing towards an ideal but are adapting through random variations to their changing environments. This natural process is spurred by the differential survival and reproduction of organisms, driven by inherited variations, without any pre-defined targets or aim.
Step-by-step explanation:
Charles Darwin's groundbreaking work on evolution and natural selection challenged the static view of species presented in the biblical account of creation.
Darwin observed that variation in inherited traits is essential for natural selection to act upon, and that species are not inevitably progressing towards a predetermined perfection. Instead, they adapt to their environments through a non-directional process of change.
Darwin's insights were derived from his observations during his voyage on the HMS Beagle, where he noted the unique adaptations of species in the Galapagos Islands and other locations. The principles underlying natural selection include the inheritance of traits, the production of more offspring than can survive, and the variation among offspring with regard to their inherited characteristics.
Contrary to methods of artificial selection, where select traits are cultivated by breeders, natural selection operates without a goal, continuously testing species' abilities to survive and reproduce within their ever-changing environments.