Why was Charles Darwin considered to be a revolutionary?

Question

Who was he really?

Answer 1

He was considered a revolutionary because he defined a new methodology for looking at biological science. Contrary to popular belief, he didn't come up with "the" theory of evolution. He came up with the theory of Natural Selection. There were many theories of evolution before and after Darwin. His methodology is what set him apart. Where many naturalists took to trying to describe evolution by studying a single animal or family of animals, he meticulously cataloged vast numbers of examples of adaptation in nature to buttress his theory. He founded a scientific principle based on studying relative frequencies of phenomena in many different species.

Answer 2

Charles Darwin was a reluctant revolutionary if we can actually apply that adjective to him. His writings about natural selection went against the Biblical view of creation and the accepted societal and political views of the day. He put off publishing his book "On the Origin of Species" until Alfred Russell Wallace came to him with the same theories about the mechanism of evolution.

I think it is interesting to note that Darwin's grandfather Erasmus Darwin wrote poetic books about evolution of life before Charles Darwin was even born.

Answer 3

There are many people who brought about great revolutions in biology. The only reason you hear about Darwin so much is because of religious and political reasons. He developed the theory of evolution which contradicted what one man wrote 4000 years ago so people want to question Darwin's theory for religious reasons.

Answer 4

Revolutionary in the sense that he presented the world a paradigm shift in thinking about how life really is on this planet.

Answer 5

Because he came up with the theory of evolution even before anyone knew anything about genes.