DANCEST 805 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Catastrophism, Spiritualism, Plinian Society
Document Summary
6th century bc: greek philosopher anaximander had evolutionary ideas. 1800: lamarck: characteristics acquired by an animal during life are passed on to future generations. > failed; cats with docked tails do not pass them on . 1830-1833: lyell"s principle of geology : history of earth not of short-term transformations but gradual changes over extremely long time. 1865: origin of species lacks an understanding of genes -> gregor mendel (his theory was understood in 20th century) 1953: crick and watson reveal the structure of dna -> double-helix. Ongoing blows of aristotelian worldview (copernicus, descartes, newton) Argument that adaption of living beings to their surroundings was so perfect that it proved the existence of god, watch-maker analogy. Developed a comprehensive theory of evolution before darwin. New varieties come into existence because organisms are actively and purposefully striving to better themselves. Acquired characteristics are passed on to next generation. Born into the financially secure intellectual elite of britain.
