Final answer:
In Darwin's time, species were believed to be unchanging since their creation, and Earth was thought to be only about 6,000 years old. Darwin's ideas of species evolving through natural selection and the influence of other scientists like Lamarck, Lyell, and Malthus led to the revolutionary theory of evolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Scientific Beliefs During Darwin's Time
During Charles Darwin's time, most scientists and the general public believed that all species were created simultaneously and remained unchanged, which is referred to as fixity of species. Moreover, it was commonly thought that the Earth was approximately 6,000 years old, and living organisms, as created, never went extinct. However, Darwin's evolutionary theory, proposed in 'On the Origin of Species', outlined the concept that species evolve over time through a process called natural selection.
Contributing Factors to Darwin's Theory
- Darwin's voyage on the HMS Beagle, where he observed unique species perfectly adapted to their environments, particularly in the Galapagos Islands.
- Influences from scientists like Lamarck, who previously suggested species could change over time.
- Geologist Charles Lyell's idea that Earth was much older than 6,000 years, providing sufficient time for evolutionary changes.
- Thomas Malthus's concept of overpopulation and competition for resources, informing Darwin's 'struggle for existence.'
Darwin's theory revolutionized biology and contradicted the static view of species upheld since Plato. His careful observations and collection of evidence, combined with intellectual influences, facilitated the formulation of his evolutionary perspective, even though he lacked an understanding of genetics and inheritance.