01:119:115 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Great Chain Of Being, Darwinism, Georges Cuvier
2 May 2016
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Document Summary
Darwinian evolution: pre-darwinian ideas: the intellectual context of darwin"s ideas. Darwinian revolution challenged traditional views (earth inhabited by unchanging species) Darwin noted that current species are descendants of ancestral species. Evolution can be defined by darwin"s phrase descent with modification. His theory based on previous ideas and research: scale naturae and classification of species. Greek philosopher species unchanging = fixed scala naturae (scale of nature) no evolution. Natural theology study god"s plan by studying nature. Binomial format for naming species (ex: homo sapiens) Evidence that the creator designed species for a purpose. These were the prevailing views a the beginning of the 19th century: new ideas about change over time: cuvier, hutton, and lyell, george cuvier: french paleontologist + natural theologian. Rock layers species disappeared + new ones appeared. Each time: god recreated life ex: noah"s flood. Late 18th century early 19th century view of geology was challenged: james hutton: scottish geologist.
