LECTURE No. 5. Charles Darwin's theory. Human Origins. Abuse of Darwinism. The evolution of nature

1. Theory of Charles Darwin

The great Englishman Charles Darwin is famous for his theory of natural selection. This theory was adopted by natural scientists.

In ancient times, scientists believed that all living organisms originated from inanimate matter. Then, when Christianity became widespread, it was argued that all living organisms were created by God, and man was created in His image and likeness. Today there are many supporters of the divine theory in the world.

With the advent of evolutionary theory, the gap that was previously filled by belief in a Creator could be filled by scientific explanations. This did not bode well for the Church, as it began to lose its influence.

Before Charles Darwin, he created his theory of evolution J. B. Lamarck. Lamarck developed his theory in the 19th century; He was the first to notice that living organisms become more complex in the process of historical development.

He explained this by the fact that animals are constantly "exercising", gaining new knowledge, as well as new experience. And then they pass it all on to their descendants, who, in turn, acquire new knowledge and new experience and also pass it on to new generations.

A significant drawback of the theory of J. B. Lamarck was that he did not try to explain the causes of evolution, its driving force.

Science did not stand still. In 1831 T. Schwann developed the cellular theory, in which he proved the fundamental unity of the living world. Now we can say that Charles Darwin, when he began to develop his theory, had a sufficient scientific basis. In his book, which was sold out on the very first day of the sale (then it was second only to the Bible in "popularity"), Charles Darwin says that the material for natural selection is an individual.

He drew attention to the fact that any species reproduces in geometric progression: one individual herring produces on average up to 40 thousand eggs, sturgeon - up to 2 million eggs, frog - up to 10 thousand eggs, one poppy plant produces up to 30 thousand. seeds So why does the number of adults remain relatively constant?

Charles Darwin explained this by a simple competitive struggle between adults, as well as a lack of food (as a result of which such competition arises), the attack of predators, and the influence of adverse natural conditions.

Darwin named three types of struggle:

1) intraspecific struggle;

2) interspecific struggle;

3) the fight against inanimate nature.

Intraspecific struggle. Darwin considered such a struggle to be the most intense. Here there is a struggle between individuals of the same species who live in the same conditions and have equal nutritional needs. Therefore, it is natural that the strongest, most adapted individuals survive here.

Interspecific struggle Eit is the fight against other types of living organisms, including predators and parasites. As a result of such a struggle, the weakest species of living organisms die.

Fight against inanimate nature. This is a fight for survival. Nature is not always kind to animals and from time to time there are droughts (and therefore famine), floods, severe frosts, etc.

The following conclusions can be drawn from the theory of Charles Darwin:

1) nature and animal organisms are constantly changing;

2) a fierce struggle for existence is constantly going on between the species of living organisms.

However, despite the fact that Charles Darwin based his theory of natural selection on extensive empirical experience collected both by Darwin's predecessors and by himself, it seems unconvincing. And some facts of evolution do not fit into the framework of the theory of natural selection at all. For example:

1) the change in the teeth and hooves of horses in the process of evolution indicates that evolution has a certain direction, not due to the struggle for existence;

2) some certain structures evolve before the need arises;

3) there are also some species of animals and insects that almost do not evolve (for example, shark, opossum, cockroach).

And the question remains: if man originated from apes, then why is this not happening now?

2. The origin of man

For many centuries, there was an opinion that man descended from the gods. Time passed, rivers of centuries flowed, and scientists began to receive the first empirical data on the origin of man. It all started with the fact that in 1856 in France the remains of an ancient man were found, who received the "name" of Driopithecus.

A new 20th century has begun. It was marked by the discovery of the remains of fossil monkeys: Proconsuls discovered in East Africa, Oriopithecus found in Italy, etc. After conducting appropriate analyses, scientists found that these ancient monkeys lived approximately from 12 to XNUMX million years ago.

In 1924, the remains of Australopithecus were discovered in South Africa. To date, scientists believe that australopithecus - "closest relative" of a person. Australopithecus was an upright mammal; the age of the found bones, as experts have found, ranges from approximately 5 to 2,5 million years.

Australopithecus weighed from 20 to 50 kg, their height was approximately from 120 to 150 cm.

Some of the main similarities with a person were:

1) a similar structure of the dental system;

2) movement on two legs.

Today it is known that the brain of Australopithecus weighed about 550 g. They used animal bones and stones as weapons to protect themselves from enemies and to get food.

Dutch explorer Eugene Dubois On the island of Java, he discovered the remains of Homo erectus. This Homo erectus was named Pithecanthropus. Many years later, similar remains were found in China, which were slightly different from the remains of the Pithecanthropus found in Java.

Historians have found that Pithecanthropus was a fairly developed person. It (and its other “relatives”, for example, Sinanthropus found in China) existed from approximately 500 thousand to 2 million years ago. Pithecanthropus knew agriculture and ate plant foods. At the same time, he was a hunter and knew how to use fire. The Pithecanthropus tribe carefully kept the secret of fire and passed it on from generation to generation.

Africa has never ceased to amaze the world with unusual finds. So, in the 1960s and 1970s. the remains of ancient people who used the simplest tools made of pebbles were discovered. These people were called Homo habilis, that is, "handy man." A skilled man existed for only about 500 thousand years. Then he evolved and acquired a great resemblance to Pithecanthropes.

If I may say so, then the children of Pithecanthropes were Neanderthals. Their remains were discovered first in Germany, in the valley of the Neander River, and then throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. In addition to the knowledge left over from Pithecanthropes, Neanderthals learned how to rip off the skin of animals, sew original clothes from it, and build dwellings.

Neanderthals were the ancestors of the Cro-Magnons. They were divided into two groups.

The first group of Neanderthals, with a small stature (slightly more than 150 cm), had very powerfully developed muscles, they had a sloping forehead; their brain mass reached already 1500. Scientists also believe that these ancestors of modern man had the beginnings of articulate speech.

The second group of Neanderthals was very different from the first. Representatives of this group were physically less developed, since they (unlike their relatives from the first group) realized that it was safer to hunt in a group, while it was easier to fight off enemies in a group. Therefore, they have significantly increased the size of the frontal lobes of the brain.

Even outwardly, they differed from the representatives of the first group: a high forehead, a developed chin and jaws. And, most likely, it was the second group that gave birth to Homo Sapiens. It is reliably known that these two species of mammals existed simultaneously for several millennia. But then modern humans finally ousted the Neanderthals.

In France, the remains of a Cro-Magnon were discovered (they were discovered in the Cro-Magnon grotto). Tools of labor were found along with the remains; Cro-Magnons knew how to make clothes and build houses.

The Cro-Magnons were articulate; they were tall (up to about 180 cm), and the volume of their cranium averaged 1600 cm³.

3. Abuse of Darwinism

It is indisputable that the theory of Charles Darwin was a powerful stimulus for the further development of science. However, the question of its viability or, conversely, complete failure, everyone must decide for himself.

At the end of the XIX century. among the largest industrialists of both America and Europe, the ideas of the Englishman Herbert Spencer circulated. Herbert Spencer used the concept of natural selection to justify free enterprise.

The essence of his idea was that the poor should be used as labor force. And that is why many manufacturers, owners of factories, enterprises, etc. "with a bang" took this theory. They found an ethical and philosophical justification for their way of life, because "survival of the fittest" (the author of this expression is Herbert Spencer, not Darwin).

And the German scientist Ernst Haeckel generally argued that man, like nature, should be free in their actions. He even said that people can be cruel and very cruel at the same time. This point of view was adopted by Nazi Germany, led by Adolf Hitler.

Hitler promoted cruelty. The "pure Aryan race" in the fight against other races and nationalities should not choose soft means, because they will be ineffective for Germany. It seemed much easier for Hitler to shoot tens of millions of civilians: the elderly, women, children - to kill millions of soldiers in the USSR defending their country from fascist aggressors.

It's sad to say, but the ideas of fascism continue to live today. Neo-fascism and skinheads in Russia fully confirm this.

4. Evolution of nature

The history of our Earth is divided into three large periods (or eras):

1) Paleozoic era;

2) Mesozoic era;

3) Neozoic era.

The Paleozoic era began 600 million years ago, before it there was the Archean era. During the Archean era there was no life on Earth yet, so we will not consider it.

The Paleozoic era is divided into:

1) early Paleozoic;

2) Late Paleozoic.

The Early Paleozoic includes the following periods: Cambrian, Silurian, Devonian.

The Late Paleozoic includes the Carboniferous and Permian periods.

It was during the Paleozoic era that the first sprouts of life appeared on Earth. Algae appear in the water, small at first. But then the water area became crowded for them, and they "decided" to get out into the air.

After algae appeared in the water, there are also first living organisms - mollusks that feed on these algae.

What happened after algae appeared on Earth? They gradually "transformed" into giant grasses, and then grass-like trees. Naturally, abundant vegetation appears on Earth. Why shouldn't she show up? After all, the climate was warm then. Our entire planet was covered in a thick, impenetrable fog of water vapor.

There were no seasons back then. Here is what testifies to this: deposits of coal have been discovered almost all over the world.

And coal - these are the remains of trees that do not have annual rings, their structure is tubular, not ring-shaped. Simply put, these are not the trees that grow outside our window, this is a very large grass.

Also in the Paleozoic era, the number of molluscs grows exponentially; fish appear that can breathe with both gills and lungs.

Next era - Mesozoic. This is the time of real flowering of the animal kingdom on Earth. At that time, the planet was inhabited by many species of reptiles. They lived both in the seas and oceans, and on land and in the air. Not only reptiles lived on the planet, but also very large insects that appeared at the end of the Paleozoic.

Also in the Mesozoic era, the first birds appear. The ancestors of birds are reptiles such as pterodactyls and archeopteryx.

Pterodactyls were reptiles with incredibly strong and developed toe muscles. And between them appeared membranes, thanks to which the pterodactyl learned to fly.

Archeopteryx had large lips and teeth, and a muzzle similar to a pterodactyl. Paleontologists find only skeletons of pterodactyls, Archeopteryx and ancient birds, but not a single intermediate link between them has been found.

So the fact that birds are descended from a pterodactyl (like a person from a monkey) cannot be considered one hundred percent proven.

Next comes neozoic era. The fauna of the Neozoic era is very similar to the world of modern animals (for example, in areas of Africa that are not affected by the glacier).

Man, according to scientists, appeared at the end of the Ice Age. It was at this time that all mammals appeared. Mammals stood out as an independent class from the class of reptiles.

Differences between mammals and reptiles:

1) hairline;

2) four-chambered heart;

3) separation of arterial and venous blood flow;

4) intrauterine development of offspring and feeding of young with milk;

5) the development of the cerebral cortex, which ensured the predominance of conditioned reflexes over unconditioned ones.

A special animal can be called a platypus. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that it "hatches" from eggs (like a reptile), and is fed by its mother's milk (like a mammal).

Author: Filin S.P.

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