Science and evolution

SCIENCE AND EVOLUTION

THE TRIUMPH OF SCIENCE

The real protagonist of the Victorian Age was the scientist, whose SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES were considered miracles.

The interest in science had already started in the Romantic Age with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. But during the Victorian Age, when the scientific discoveries increased, science became more important.

The triumph of science influenced a rationalistic and positivistic attitude in all fields. This interest gave ways to ethical problems and this particularly visible in Stevenson's 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide'.

THE DEBATE ON EVOLUTION

The most important debate of the period is the one aroused by the theory of evolution, which underlined the religious conception of the beginning of the world created by God.

On the contrary the theory maintained that all the leaving creatures were the result of a long process of evolution.

DARWIN'S RESEARCH

The evolution theory is generally associated with Charles Darwin and his 'Origin of Species', which he wrote in the 1850's.

However previous scientists (Lyell and Chambers) had already anticipated the scientific debate on evolution.

Darwin's contribute to science, particularly in biology, concerned the discovery that man descends from apes, a theory which caused even a great shock in society.

OPPOSITION TO EVOLUTION

In developing his theories Darwin founds opposition not only inside the church, but also in scientists who believed Darwin's theories unsound.