The spelling of the word "Darwinism" comes from the name of the renowned naturalist Charles Darwin, who developed the theory of evolution. The word is spelled as [dɑːʳwɪnɪz(ə)m], with the stress on the second syllable. The "a" in "Darwin" is pronounced as a long vowel sound, and the stress is on the first syllable. The suffix "-ism" indicates a belief system or ideology, indicating that "Darwinism" refers to the theory of evolution developed by Darwin.
Darwinism refers to the set of theories and hypotheses that emerged from the work of Charles Darwin, a British naturalist and biologist, particularly his groundbreaking book "On the Origin of Species" published in 1859. Darwinism primarily revolves around the concept of evolution, which posits that living organisms have gradually developed and diversified over time through a process of natural selection.
At its core, Darwinism asserts that all species, including humans, have descended from a common ancestor and have evolved through the preservation of advantageous traits and the elimination of undesirable ones. Natural selection, a central tenet of Darwinism, suggests that the individuals within a population who possess traits most suited to the environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on these advantageous traits to subsequent generations.
Darwinism also emphasizes the role of variation and heredity in the evolutionary process. It proposes that random mutations and genetic recombination generate diversity within a population, allowing species to adapt and survive in changing environments.
The principles of Darwinism have had a profound impact on various scientific fields such as biology, anthropology, and paleontology, shaping our understanding of the origins and diversity of life on Earth. However, Darwinism has also been subject to scrutiny and debates due to its potential implications for social, political, and religious ideologies, particularly regarding human evolution and the existence of a Creator.
The doctrine of the origin of species, taught by Charles Darwin and expounded by him in his various works; the central assumptions are evolution by natural selection and survival of the fittest.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "Darwinism" was coined in the 1870s and refers to the body of evolutionary theories developed by Charles Darwin, particularly his theory of natural selection. The term itself derives from Darwin's last name, "Darwin", and the suffix "-ism", which is used to denote a system or belief. Darwinism reflects the ideas and principles set forth by Darwin, such as the concept of common descent, gradualism, and the survival of the fittest. It has become synonymous with the broader field of evolutionary biology and has had a significant impact on various scientific disciplines.