LOL...

A lot of folks, for decades, have taken Darwin's words and made them have their own meanings. Not having read about Darwin for myself, I jumped on the bandwagon along with everyone else- thinking "only the strong survive". I thought this way until I had to take an Ecology class.

Very interesting, but, because I had watched so many specials on National Geographic, Discovery, etc.. A lot of what we discussed was not news, except for Darwin... I also learned most of the world's oxygen comes from the ocean... I thought it mostly came from the world's plant life as we'd been taught in Biology- not about where it comes from, but that humans exhale carbon dioxide, which plants need, and plants give off oxygen, which animals need.

I just figured it was a mutually beneficial, reciprocal loop. Plants help, but it's the algae on the ocean that creats the most oxygen.

 

I kinda agree with you...
Darwin preached natural selection as the process by which the stronger survive, and stronger was considered in terms of adaptability. He believed that animals will/can adapt to their environment and changing threats, and those that adapted best would survive.

Darwin's theory is built completely out of the concept of natural selection; I don't think Darwin actually talked about "survival of the fittest," I think that was a paraphrase for natural selection used later on. I don't remember anything about speed of procreation being overly significant. Maybe I'm forgetting something, where did you learn this take on Darwin's theories?

 

It may not be new but we atleast like to feel smart discusing something of some signifigance......

Beats the political and religious threads......

Ussually when I want to have an intelegent converstaion i have to talk to myself!

 

 

SCI1027, Ecology, College.
PhD. Professor (I forget his name).

We were discussing his 5-year voyage on the Beagle, and that's when it came up. Even though that statement "Survival of the fittest" is commonly attributed to Darwin, those weren't his words- that was a paraphrasing of the sentiment of his notes that has lasted over a century.

 

I'd like to see your professor's syllabus, I'm curious about the context he's using Darwin's theory in. If you'll tell me the name of the college, I can probably find one online.

 

Amberton University

www.amberton.edu

I'll do you one better- here's the syllabus: ftp://amberton.edu/syllabus/under/SCI1027.e1.htm
Different Professor from when I took it, but roughly the same material though...

When I took it, in addition to the syllabus material, a book by Aldo Leopold called "A Sand County Almanac" was also required reading, and testable.

 

Thanks, I'll check it out.

 

Take the warning stickers off and watch the beauty of natural selection unfold

 

I can't believe this hasn't turned into a religious debate already. Personal beliefs aside, I'm glad we can have "intelegent converstaion" time to time without getting down each others throats. Let's keep it that way.

 

first of all, being a Methodist, I believe that Darwin is full of crap.

My belief from his "Survival of the Fittest" theroy revolves around the "caveman with the biggest club" story. I could be wrong but thats what I got out of it.

 

PSS-mag,

You are WAY off. Many men look for something that is simply breathing to "breed" with, and then move on...

 

For some thats not even a requirment....

 

Kind of like when them type walk into a house the fish stop swimming...

 

and the dogs and cats run off to hide with the mice.