While Charles Darwin is remembered for his imposing theory of evolution, Darwin’s methodology of hypothetico-deductive reasoning has greatly influenced the evolution of science itself. Dr. Anelli also noted that his studies are not solely limited to the field of evolutionary biology; Darwinian theory is interdisciplinary and has led to Nobel Prizes in fields such as Physiology and Medicine as recent as 2017.
The film Creation helped contextualize Darwin’s life, and Dr. Anelli emphasized this. Life was very different in Victorian England. This presented a range of obstacles that scientists today usually need not consider. Before his work was published, he was quoted that writing about natural selection and descent with modification was like, “confessing a murder.” This stuck for me for two reasons: Darwin knew that he was on the brink of something revolutionary, and it made me consider what scientific discovery today could imitate the culpability of murder, as Darwin felt. His ideas were threatening towards the existing hierarchy and typological thinking of the times. Additionally, Creation helped me understand the internal conflict Darwin felt as he grappled with religion and the external conflict within his marriage to first cousin, Emma, and the death of his oldest daughter, Annie. I found that delving into Darwin’s personal life was refreshing because in science, it is easy to focus on one’s achievements without recognition of overcoming personal struggles.
Dr. Anelli’s explanation of the Paradigm of Natural Theology stood out to me as what could have been most difficult for Darwin to overcome. Reverend William Paley, a man Darwin admired, used the analogy of a watch to relate to creation. All pieces of the watch serve a purpose; nothing is accidental or imperfect. Likewise, Paley believed all species are fixed and constant, perfectly adapted as is. Darwin’s notion that species evolve for better survival had serious implications against the church that God’s creatures could be considered imperfect.
Overall, Creation and Dr. Anelli’s presentation helped create a well-rounded image of Charles Darwin at the intersection of science and history. I enjoyed Dr. Anelli’s point that a good scientist is always asking the why behind the way things are. Darwin exemplified this and how skepticism and patience paired with years of observances can lead to lasting paradigm shifts.
What came to my mind as a modern example of a paradigm shift with great resistance, Devon, is climate change. There are many that see the concept as heretical, even some for similar reasons to Darwin’s theory of evolution (i.e. God made it perfect or God will take care of it). Others (particularly young people) don’t really question the concept of climate change as they have grown up accepting it. They don’t see it as much as an imperfect God, but just a reality of the world they live in.