Charles Darwin, the British naturalist, lived from 1809 until 1882. As a keen observer of the natural world, his studies, particularly after a five year voyage on the H. M. S Beagle, caused him to become skeptical of the then predominant belief in the Divine creation of each species. Contrary to popular thought, Darwin did not create the theory of evolution.
Some variation of evolutionary thought has been around for centuries. What Darwin did popularize, however, was the theory of natural selection, the belief that was later called survival of the fittest.Because populations stay at more or less at the same level, Darwin posited that there is an ongoing struggle for survival, and that only those species who had adapted the best characteristics would continue. Although Darwin thought there was harmony in nature, after his voyage he no longer thought that perfect adaptation existed. Transmutation of the species ( the belief that each species is descended from previous, earlier species and that characteristics are inherited),replaced his belief in perfect adaptation.
(Norton,1995).Thus Darwin chose chaos and chance to undergird his belief in organisms. He speculated that life originally began from a little pond where sunlight was acting on organic salts. (“Philosophical Worldviews”,2002) In this pre-biotic soup view which Darwin discusses in the Origins of Species, life can come from non life. An original simple celled organism could have conceivably evolved into a complex species over time. Although having a common ancestor, species that undergo mutations produce new organisms.
Individual differences are very important in this theory of natural selection.In contrast to Darwin, Plato was a Greek philosopher, a student of Socrates. He lived from 428/427-348/347 B. C and was famous for his written dialogues in which several people debate philosophy.
The basis of Plato’s philosophy was his belief that a body and a soul are separate. He thought that a soul was divided into three sections reason, will, and appetite. He argued that the parts of a soul can be recognized because they often clash with one another. In his Republic Plato wrote the Allegory of the Cave. This parable is an effort to understand “the Good.
”He believed that if people would release popular explanations and grab on to the “absolute” good for themselves, they would be better served in guiding their own lives(“Intro to Plato”,2003). Goodness has to be the same as the Form of the Good; the absolute, or essential characteristic of the many forms that share it. It is the standard to for classifying the multitude of objects that our senses perceive. Our mind, not eyes perceives goodness.
It is not even possible to see it. Thus things are divided dually into a higher world things we know only with our mind and lower world things we see.Real objects are imperfect, just copies of the Forms. Forms exist, but they can not be grasped by sight because they are perfect, unchanging models. Plato believed that although the body dies and decays, the soul lives forever. After the death of the body, the soul goes to what Plato termed the realm of pure forms.
There, it exists without a body, meditating on the forms. Early Christianity was influenced by a form of Neo-Platonism, a philosophy founded upon Plato’s thought. The belief in the separation of the body and the soul, and an immortal soul started with Plato. (“Intro to Plato”,2003).The basis difference in the philosophies of these two men is that Darwin believed in species change while Plato believed in ideal Forms which do not change. While evolution and mutation provide the framework for Darwin, the concept of essences, a preexistent Form of Good and absolute undergirds Plato’s thought.
One presents the concept of change as opposed to the other’s concept of the unchanging. Although Darwin ruled out supernatural influences in creation, Plato thought that a Deity carefully constructed it. Darwin turned the world on its head with the presentation of his philosophy.It revolutionized biological thought and persuaded scientists to contemplate life from another perspective. His theories also upset many with a religious bent.
Darwin labeled himself, “the Devil’s Chaplain” because he denied Supernatural creation. Thus Darwin’s theory began a paradigm shift in philosophical thought. Many began to adhere to his beliefs. Others denounced him. The split continues to this day--- pitching those who believe in creationism against those who believe in evolution; those who believe in order against those who propose randomness.
