FREE ESSAY ON DARWIN'S THEORY OF IQ

DARWIN'S THEORY OF IQ

The famous naturalist Charles Darwin presented the theory of natural selection. He went on
many journeys on sea and on land, following his interests of the nature and the change
that happens in the nature, i.e., the change in species. Following his exposure to many
different kinds of birds, insects and animals, he explained Natural Selection as
presentation of favorable variations and the rejecting of injurious variations.(131).
Darwin used analogies and metaphors to demonstrate that different alterations occurred in
the same specie, which helped them to adapt to their surroundings.
Darwin's theory of natural selection was based on the following facts: 1) organisms
increase more rapidly than their food supply. He quotes that there are finite number of
resources, therefore making him a Neo-Malthusian. 2) Due to natural selection, there is
never overpopulation in animals, because some of them will be eliminated at a young age
due to unfavorable environment. 3) Due to limited resources, all life forms struggle to
survive, but only the superior ones survive. 4) Those individuals that possess some
characteristic that are useful in adapting the environment increase their chances of
survival, and produce more offspring with the favorable characteristic and pass them to
the next generations. Due to the variations in characteristic and physical changes, the
new individual will eventually become so distinct that they will constitute different
specie. 
Sexual competition is an important aspect that depends, not on a struggle for existence,
but on a struggle between the males for the possession of the females (136). It does not
affect the death of the recessive individual, but it results in fewer or no offspring for
that male. Victory depends on special traits. For example: a hornless stag or spur less
cock would not have a good chance of leaving offspring. Darwin provides graphic examples
of species warfare by saying male salmons have been seen fighting all day long; male
stag-beetles often bear wounds from the huge mandibles of other males (136). These
weapons and shields of animals are as important for victory as swords or spears, are for
humans. Sexual selection also involves attracting females by show or aesthetics; some
birds as Guiana display their gorgeous plumage and perform strange antics in front of the
females, who choose the most attractive partner for them. Darwin believed that when the
males and females of any animal have the same general habits of life, but differ in
structure, color, or ornament, such differences have been mainly caused by sexual
selection (137). 
Darwin illustrates the action of natural selection in various ways. A weak wolf can still
survive, if the number of dear increase in its territory. Cats have a tendency to catch
rats rather than mice, because that characteristic is inherited is inherited. Even if a
slight difference in the habit of an individual can better suit the individual for
survival. Darwin says, if any slight change innate change of habit or of structure
benefited an individual wolf, it would have the best chance of surviving and of leaving
offspring (139). Darwin compares natural selection to animal husbandry by saying,  a
breeder selects for some definite object, and free intercrossing will wholly stop his
work. (148). He explains intercrossing that it affects those animals, which do not breed
at a quick rate. 
Darwin gives a real world example of a breeder, who selects for distinct objects in
specie, resulting liberated intercrossing to stop. The new animals do not cross with the
inferior ones. There would be an improvement and alteration in the animal, if many men
have the same standard of exactness. As Darwin says Intercrossing plays an important part
in nature in keeping the individuals of the same species, or the same variety, true and
uniform in character. (149) Darwin used a daily life example of a nurseryman, who prefers
getting seed from large body of the same variety that results in decreasing the
intercrossing with other varieties. Isolation is a method that acts efficiently in
checking the immigration of better-adapted organisms, after an alteration in the climate.
There are more chances of modification and of spreading widely on a large area then on a
small area. 
Darwin presents his theory of Extinction as: each favored and selected form increases in
number, the less favored form decreases and eventually becomes rare. As he explains
rarity is the precursor of extinction.(153) Because of the small number of the original
form, there is a smaller chance of adapting, which ultimately leads to extinction. Darwin
gives examples of new breeds of cattle, sheep and other animals that replace the older
and substandard kind. To be precise, he presents example of ancient black cattle, which
was displaced by the longhorns. 
Darwin gives importance to divergence of character within specie. He explains that even a
slight difference in the characteristic of specie could make a gigantic difference. He
presents with an example of some men in early period, which preferred fleeter horse, but
the others liked bulky horses. The difference becomes greater and greater forming two
sub-breeds. The favorable variation slowly becomes so different that it would be a lot
different from the original. 
Charles Darwin has explained his theory of natural selection in a very straightforward
way. He went by stating theories and giving general life examples, to help understand
them better. Darwin's theory is written step-by-step giving a very good explanation of
evolution.