Question

Why is Darwin and not Wallace credited with defining natural selection?

A) Alfred Wallace did not contribute significantly to the theory.
B) Darwin was the first to publish his ideas on natural selection.
C) Wallace's work was not related to natural selection.
D) Both Darwin and Wallace are equally credited for defining natural selection.

Answer 1

Charles Darwin is more credited with the theory of natural selection than Alfred Russel Wallace largely due to Darwin's publication of 'On the Origin of Species' in 1859 and his significant body of evidence already gathered. Both scientists presented their findings jointly in 1858, but Darwin's work was more extensive and had greater reach.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reason why Darwin is often more credited than Wallace for defining natural selection can be attributed largely to Darwin's extensive publication, 'On the Origin of Species'. This book, published in 1859, detailed his arguments for evolution by natural selection comprehensively and reached a wide audience. Both Darwin and Wallace did indeed present papers jointly in 1858 at the Linnaean Society, but it was Darwin who had already gathered a substantial body of evidence during his voyage on the HMS Beagle and had been formulating his ideas for decades. Moreover, Darwin's and Wallace's insights were a culmination of ideas, with Wallace sending Darwin his paper that confirmed Darwin's already established thoughts. Thus, while both scientists independently conceived the idea of natural selection, Darwin's thorough documentation and earlier exhaustive research, combined with the timing of publications, led to greater recognition for Darwin.