Charles Darwin
Study & Essay
Study Questions
The theory of evolution had been around long before Darwin's Origin of Species? What new elements made the Origin of species so important, and why?
Why were the Galapagos Islands important to the formation of Darwin's theory of evolution?
Essay Topics
Why was there some controversy over whether Darwin should be buried at Westminster Abbey?
What impact, if any, do you think Darwin's schooling as a doctor and clergyman had on his ultimate career as a naturalist? On his theory of evolution?
What impact did Darwin's self-imposed isolation at the Down House have on his career as a scientist?
Why was Jenkin's criticism of evolution by natural selection so damaging to Darwin? What do we know now that makes this criticism less relevant?
Who were Darwin's mentors during his Edinburgh and Cambridge years, and how did they contribute to his development as a naturalist?
Discuss the impact of wealth on Darwin's success as a scientist. How do you think his father's money affected his ability to do science? Has the role of personal wealth in science changed today?
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