Darwin's Effect on Human History

Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection has had a good effect on human history. Without the contributions of Darwin, the church would still be the dominant power structure, since they are the only ones that seemed to have had any answers for a long time. The church knew and continues to assert that they know how we got here and more importantly what our purpose is while we are here. They say all this based on a document that was written by mankind. Even before the bible, people looked to the gods for answers. For instance, 10,000 years ago people did no know that conception occurs when a sperm cell and egg cell meet. For this reason they thought it was the power of an unseen entity that caused women to become pregnant. They worshipped fertility gods with an unwavering belief that that was the only way to get pregnant. They did not understand the whole reproduction process and could not fathom how a baby could just begin to grow within a woman. The priests said it was because of the gods and the people were not advanced enough to figure it out so they just believed the priest.

The pharaohs of Egypt built huge temples to honor the gods because they truly believed they would have a prosperous reign if they did that. Looking back from this century, it seems kind of silly to rely on unseen forces for things such as conception and prosperity. Nowadays if someone wants to make it in this world, they make goals and take steps that get them there. Furthermore, back then, the means of getting ahead was barbaric. If you wanted to get ahead you killed people and took their belongings and land. It seems to me humankind has come a long way, and Darwin's theory along with science as a whole shows an advancement of the human race, whereas religious beliefs alone seem to be holding humankind back.

Darwin was the start of a society that looks deeper for answers instead of just accepting the mythologies that have been passed down for thousands of years. Phillip Johnson, attorney and critic of Darwinism, writes several books where he points out the flaws present in the theory of evolution. Attorneys learn in law school how to poke holes in existing arguments and construct better ones. That is exactly what Johnson does. He pokes holes in the theory of evolution and then presents his Intelligent Design "theory", which is a better argument. Unfortunately, that is all it is, an argument. Humankind could argue all day and never come up with anything legitimate. Fortunately, scientist everyday are constructing hypothesis attempting to support them.

Numerous scientists have supported Darwin's theory, which is why it is a theory. The theory of gravity is a theory because it has never been disproved. While Intelligent Design is not scientific, it does do something really important. It reminds people not to be so quick to place their trust or faith in science, and as a result, not in anything really. That seems a little nihilistic, but if people won't put blind faith in creationism, then they shouldn't put blind faith in naturalism.

Without Darwin, there would be no antithesis to evolution and therefore no growth for humankind in regards to these very important issues. It is good that Johnson pokes holes in the Theory of Evolution, shaking up the scientific community, and putting doubt in the minds of the general public regarding evolution. Now scientist will work even harder to find evidence to either support or disprove the theory of evolution and that definitely has to be good for the advancement of science and humankind.