charles_darwin

Conclusion
universe? People asked the latter question after the publication of
The Origin of Species. Darwin’s book challenged the orthodox view of
the importance of humankind. The reaction to The Origin of Species,
and other books that suggested humankind was not a special creation,
was part of a late-nineteenth century debate about the uniqueness
and responsibility of humans. The debate continues more than
one hundred years later.
Not all the advances based on the theory of evolution are so worryingly
negative. Thanks to Darwin and a plethora of nineteenth- and
twentieth-century scientists, a great deal more is known about the natural
world. Concepts such as biodiversity, conservation, and environmentalism
have their origins in the work of scientists such as Darwin.
Knowing about the great number and diversity of species had led to a
concern about protecting those species. Knowing about the relationship
between ecosystems and the distribution of species has led to a
concern about the effect humans have on their environment. Darwin
loved nature. (After reading his books it is impossible to think about
pigeons, barnacles, and worms as mundane and insignificant creatures.)
He would have been pleased by the number of scientists and
nonscientists alike who now believe it is important to live in harmony
with the rest of the natural world rather than dominate it.
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A Final Assessment
Reflecting on his work, Darwin said the following:
I have almost always been treated honestly by my reviewers,
passing over those without scientific knowledge as not worthy
of notice. My views have often been grossly misrepresented, bitterly
opposed and ridiculed, but this has been generally done as,
I believe, in good faith. On the whole I do not doubt that my
works have been over and over again greatly overpraised. 6
While there are debates in the parts of the United States about
whether to teach the theory of evolution—the opponents of evolution
forgetting that the most tested and proven scientific ideas are
still called theories—it is worth noting that Darwin was not bothered
by people who disagreed with him. The opponents who annoyed
him were those who had not taken the trouble to read and understand
the science underpinning his ideas. A person could study natural
history and come to a different conclusion from Darwin about
the origin of species: the important act was the studying.