Question

22. Identify two scientists who influenced Charles Darwin’s thinking. What did each person hypothesize? Were their hypotheses correct? Why or why not

Answer 1

There were many people ( geologists, economists, collaborators) who influenced Charles Darwin's thinking but among them the most popular were Thomas malthus and Jean Baptiste lamark.

Thomas malthus hypothesized the theory of population in which he suggested that population grows exponentially and the food supply grows arithmetically. The balance between the two can be established through postive and preventive checks.

This theory explained that population grows rapidy than food supply until famines, diseases and war balance the nature or we can say reduce the population.

This theory is also called as malthusian theory. Darwin applied all these ideas and came up with ''survival of the fittest''.

Jean Baptiste lamark hypothesized theory of inheritance of acquired characters.

This theory suggests that if an organism changes during it's life in order to adapt itself in environment ,those changes passed on to its offspring.

It also means the change is made by what the organism need. These ideas helped Darwin in natural selection. This theory is also called as lamarkism.

Examples like giraffe used to have small neck as they were residing in those areas where there was less vegetation hence they have to increase their neck length in order to eat higher plant leaves.

Lamarks theory has not been proven experimentaly hence it's not a correct hypothesis but yes these ideas helped Darwin in proposing theory of evolution.

Yes Thomas malthus hypothesized correct way of describing population growth.

These ideas helped Darwin what he had seen on Galapagos Islands.