Charles Darwin was an extraordinary scientist who substantially changed the perception of the world. His impact can only be described by the term zeitgeist. In this case, it means that Darwin’s impact was the most revolutionary change of his epoch. Mayr (2000) states that his findings were so crucial that every field of science was influenced by it in one way or another. Six essential findings define his scientific career, revolutionizing biology and social studies.
The most meaningful changes impacted the way biologists and other scientists thought. First, Darwin based his conclusions on research and observation instead of supernatural occasions. Secondly, he accepted the possibility of change in contrast with the previously acclaimed static typology. Moreover, this shift decreased the connection between theology and science.
As a result, this rejected the idea of everything being determined by current facts. In other words, determinism stopped being a possible way of predicting the future. In addition, separation from religion put a focus on humans, which led to the new age of anthropocentrism. Finally, this change in public worldview created a demand for ethics as a new field that demanded exploration. Thus, Darwin’s discoveries and methods influenced the whole scientific paradigm.
In conclusion, the changes that started in Darwinian times continue to affect modern science. Even though theological thought still opposes the ideas of evolution presented by this notable researcher, evolution was not the only contribution to the world of rationale. The side effects of this discovery were so substantial that they led to the creation of ethics, a highly prominent field of science. The idea that change was natural and consistency was the rare state of the biological world meant that even absolute knowledge could not provide information about the future. These contributions may be even more influential than the idea of evolution itself.
Reference
Mayr, E. (2000). Darwin’s impact on modern thought. Scientific American, 283(1), 78–83. Web.