is there a difference between darwinism and evolution or are they just two words for the same thing?

Answer 1

Yes there is a difference. They are NOT the same thing.

The term 'Evolution' itself can mean either the *process* of evolution or the *Theory* of Evolution. Darwinism is sometimes used as a term for the Theory of Evolution ... but it is inaccurate.

Explanation:

When people say "evolution" they mean one of two things:
(A) The process of slow change in a species in response to environment; or
(B) The "Theory of Evolution" that all species on the planet are related by common ancestry that goes all the way back to single-celled organisms.

Pretty much everybody (even creationists) agrees that the *process* of evolution occurs. (Creationists, faced with the undeniable fact that species do change even over short periods of time, try to reserve the word 'microevolution' for this short-term evolution ... but it is evolution nonetheless.)

Where creationists disagree with the *Theory of Evolution* is whether evolution can produce *speciation* (the splitting of a species into two species) ... what they call 'macroevolution'. They fail to see that 'macroevolution' is just 'microevolution' + two subpopulations of a species getting separated + TIME.

Darwin's theory (Natural Selection) is an explanation of *how* (A) the process of evolution occurs, and thus provides a key piece of (B) the Theory of Evolution.

In other words, Darwin did not come up with the concept evolution (neither the process nor the theory) ... that concept has been around since the Greeks. Darwin merely *explained* it. (In fact, Darwin didn't like the word "evolution" ... he preferred the term "descent with modification" ... but "evolution" stuck.)

The term "Darwinism" is a cynical attempt to pull the Theory of Evolution out of science, and into the arena of a philosophy or belief system (like "Marxism"). In other words, it tries to attribute the entire theory to one man, and that people who accept evolution do so because they revere that man. This is rubbish, of course. First, Darwin did NOT "introduce" the Theory of Evolution himself ... he merely provided a KEY part of it. And second, the reason more than 95% of scientists, (literally tens of thousands of scientists for over 150 years) accept evolution as a driving force in the creation of new species is for three reasons: evidence, evidence, and evidence. Scientists, as a community, are not swayed by the beauty of one man's writing, or even the persuasion of his logic ... they really do require *evidence*. Scientists are not, as a community, stupid or dishonest. If the evidence was not there they would *not* agree with the theory. There is a Nobel prize waiting for the scientist who can disprove it, or come up with a better (simpler) theory that explains the same HUGE body of evidence.

Hope that helps ... see also the following very good source:

Answer 2

There is a difference.
Charles Darwin published the origin of the species, and it's contents and his subsequent comments were then used by people of the day to espouse Darwinism.
Most of what he wrote and said holds true for Evolution today, but we have subsequently advanced a more complete theory of Evolution.
It is still true to say that Darwin or Darwinism is the father of the Theory of Evolution.
It is still a Theory, meaning it was a Hypothesis that could not be disproved scientifically. Because of the nature of the Theory it has not become a Law, like the Laws of Thermodynamics.
This confuses some but is scientifically correct.
And I wonder how many of those who disbelieve it, have a pure breed of pet, or roses in their garden?
To paraphrase another, it is ironic that the bible-belt was the first to evolve pest immune to DDT.
When our anti-biotics no longer work I fully expect to hear that it is the work of God, and well it may be, but the process he uses will be evolution.

(edit)
Dividing the evolution into theory and process is just a cop-out. The whole thing is getting messed around by people who never really understood it in the first place.
Evolution today is obvious, what we understand from the past is scientifically accurate. They are the same thing, until you can dissprove it. It does not neccesarily involve taking it down to one common root, just suggests it.
Multi disciplinary science is still in the process of discovery - so if you want to dividing into 'theory' and 'process', then start talking about 'theory' and 'hypothesis'. But I would rather you call it something else entirely.

Answer 3

Strictly speaking, they are not the same thing. Evolution is a term that simply refers to the change of a population through time. Darwinism refers specifically to the theory of natural and sexual selection put forward by Charles Darwin. But various theories of evolution existed before Darwin's, such as Lamarckism, although these have all now been discredited. And the modern theory is more correctly referred to as neo-Darwinism, since it's substantially modified from Darwin's original - in particular, he didn't know about genetics. The combination of the original theory plus genetics is known as the modern synthesis.

For some reason, creationists like to identify the theory with one person when they attack it, so they usually refer to Darwinism. You're very unlikely to encounter a scientist referring to themselves as a Darwinist, or the theory itself as Darwinism. They imagine that if somehow they can discredit Darwin himself, they therefore call the entire theory into question. Of course, the theory stands on its own merits, quite outside the qualities of the person who originally proposed it.

Answer 4

Darwinism isn't a formal term. Evolution has "evolved" since Darwin.

Answer 5

Charles Darwin is the person who introduced the idea of evolution. He conducted his studies on the Galapagos Islands.

Answer 6

darwin came up with the evolution theory but i hate that its still called a theory

Answer 7

Yes they are different - Darwinism relates to natural selection and evolution relates to natural selection, mutation or genetic drift.

Answer 8

There's no such thing as Darwinism.

Its a word made up by religious types - they can only imagine following a person because they accept arguments from authority eg. 'believe me because I SAID SO!' Science on the other hand says, dont believe me, do the experiment yourself, improve on it if you can, test the theory, refine the theory, or if it fails, replace the theory.

Evolution is a theory, but its also a fact.

Answer 9

same thing how ever it is proved to be not standing