Why was Darwin's theory of evolution only gradually accepted?
1 Answer
Darwin's theory was resisted for philosophical and scientific reasons.
Explanation:
Darwin's theory was rapidly accepted by the followers of the Enlightenment. Darwin's theory provided an acceptable means of believing that everything happens by natural cause. The philosophy of the Enlightenment dictated that matter was everything and only natural causes that could be observed should be considered.
Darwin's theory seemed to indicate that a theistic explanation of life was not needed, or credible. Because of this people with a theistic world view resisted Darwin's theory. This conflict of world views continues to this day.
Scientific resistance to the theory came from several sources.
First there was and is no empirical evidence for Darwin's theory. The theory is based on its explanatory power and indirect evidence. Common descent with modification the heart of Darwin's theory can not be observed. The adaptations and evolution within species that can be observed are extrapolated in support of the theory. Many scientists demanded experimental evidence that Darwin's theory was lacking and so resisted the theory.
Second was the experimental evidence that seemed to contradict Darwin's theory. Louis Pastour resisted Darwin's theory because his experiments indicated that life only came from life not spontaneously. Darwin's theory implies that somehow in the past life came from non life. Also Gregor Mendels experiments in genetics indicated that there was not an infinite variation possible in living things, as required by Darwin's theory.
People's whose world view align with the material realism of the Enlightenment readily accept Darwin's theory. People whose worldview are more theistic still resist Darwin's theory. Scientists that are philosophical biased accepted Darwin's theory. Those who are biased toward empirical science still have doubts about Darwin's theory.
