Final answer:
Leslie White credited earlier theorists such as Alfred Russel Wallace and Charles Darwin for their work on evolution, which influenced his own theories. He also recognized the contributions of forethinkers like David Hume and William Paley. In other scientific contributions, Francis Crick and James Watson are credited for DNA's molecular structure, while Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (Chandra) made significant advances in astronomy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Leslie White was a renowned anthropologist who gave credit to previous theorists that influenced his work. Among them, Alfred Russel Wallace stands out, who alongside Charles Darwin, developed the theory of evolution. Darwin and Wallace are credited with the foundational ideas that White agreed with, despite Darwin's higher level of fame and recognition.
Moreover, David Hume, through his fictional character Cleanthes in 'Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion', and William Paley in 'Natural Theology', are recognized for their earlier theories that Leslie White acknowledged. These intellectual precursors laid the groundwork for White's later contributions. In the context of DNA, Francis Crick and James Watson are most credited for describing its molecular structure.
In the field of astronomy, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (referred to as Chandra) is credited with groundbreaking work on the theory of white dwarfs. Despite initial resistance from established scientists like Sir Arthur Eddington, Chandra's theories eventually became integral to our understanding of stellar evolution.