Why did people not accept Darwins theory at the time of its writing?
2007-02-11 16:01:12 · 3 answers · asked by Sarah S 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Several reasons, including:
1. They saw Darwin's theory as being "against God and the Bible" so they weren't willing to look at it as science.
2. They had preconceived notions about the meaning and origin of fossils, and they weren't willing to change their ideas about them.
2007-02-11 16:06:14 · answer #1 · answered by ecolink 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi Sarah. All new scientific theories tend to be 'rejected' at first. In medicine there is a principle known as the "Fifty Year Rule". It takes about 2 generations for practicing doctors (and the public) to accept scientific 'truths' that researchers first identified 50 years earlier.
In the 1850's, Dr. Semmelweis in Europe discovered that washing/disinfecting his hands between working in the morgue and delivering babies (this was before bacteria were discovered) could save the lives of his pregnant mothers and their babies. How did his fellow doctors respond to this incredible discovery? They ostracized him and destroyed his practice and his life!
In the 1950's Dr. Kilmer McCully at Harvard discovered that a molecule called Homocsyteine might cause atherosclerosis and heart disease. But, everyone 'knew' that cholesterol causes these problems. Consequently, Dr. McCully was kicked out of Harvard and had to continue his ground-breaking research elsewhere. Today, thousands of research studies are published every year on Homocsyteine and many doctors order blood tests of it in their patients (the 50 year rule!).
Speaking of cholesterol, in 1999 the New England Journal of Medicine published the paradigm changing paper on atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is now believed to be caused by inflammation and NOT cholesterol alone! In just 42 more years, this will be 'common knowledge' and an accepted 'truth'. Until then, cholesterol lowering drugs (e.g. statins like Lipitor) will be grossly over prescribed and patients will continue to suffer from its side-effects.
As you can see, even in science and medicine, history really does repeat itself.
Best wishes and good luck.
2007-02-12 00:26:57 · answer #2 · answered by Doctor J 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
untill i do not accept darwins theory
2007-02-12 04:11:53 · answer #3 · answered by mamin_87 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋