Who in here has read Darwins works...specifically "Origin of Species: By Means of Natural Selection"?

Question

I am not a believer of evolution but I feel that in order to be more educated on what it is I feel I need to read what Darwin actually wrote and said. I do admit I am just repeating what I have been told and read from critics of Darwin and evolution. How many of you that support evolution have read "Origin of Species: By Means of Natural Selection"? Did you think it was an informative and accurate book?

Answer 1

Haven't read it. I got the updated and condensed version in Advanced Biology and Anatomy & Physiology.

Answer 2

Yes, I have read it and have a copy in my library.

You should ask why you don't 'believe' in evolution. Science isn't something that requires faith. You understand the facts or you don't.

You might find Darwin's arguments troubling as he refuted most of the creationist arguments about 140 years ago in that one book. There are many new books which are just as good of course - after all, science does not admit 'argument from authority' Darwin was right but that doesn't make him particularly special. You can learn about evolution anywhere without ever reading Darwin. Here are some starting points. Good luck.

Books:
‘The Variety of Life’ by Colin Tudge
‘The Ancestor’s Tale’ and
'The Selfish Gene' by Richard Dawkins
‘Almost a Whale’ by Steven Jones
‘Evolution’ by Mark Ridley

Web:
http://www.talkorigins.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/

Answer 3

An important caveat for you: The scientific community does not regard Origin of Species as an infallible and unchangeable treatise on the subject of evolution. That is the starting point for evolution theory. There has been almost 150 years of research done in the interim, and the theory has been revised and updated accordingly since then. Reading Origin of Species and assuming you know everything there is to know about evolution is like reading the book of Genesis and assuming you know everything there is to know about the Bible, so don't stop with Darwin.

Answer 4

Yes, I read it. If you are interested in the way the theory was developed and science it is fascinating. If you want to understand evolution in regards to modern information with all we have learned since a more modern text book as others have said would be the best source. When Darwin wrote we didn't know about DNA and genetic code yet. Evolutionary theory has progressed greatly since and today the cutting edge findings are coming through molecular biology.

Answer 5

I read it back around 1980. I judged it to be and still judge it to be an "informative and accurate book." It is a work of inference from observed phenomena. Many of his observations have been supplanted by later ones, certainly there are many new tools for collecting information, and important parts of his theory have been revised or are open. But within the limitations of a scientific work from 150 years or so ago, I count it "informative and accurate." If I get my copy out and review it I may be able to make higher quality remarks about it than these ramblings I have posted here. I also read Paley. I think I read "Voyage of the HMS Beagle" but I did not read the "Descent of Man."

Answer 6

I have read the book, but the evolution of Darwin is pretty different to the evolutionary theory we have today, because we've discovered so much in the intervening time.

No wonder you don't believe in evolution if all you know about it comes from Creationists. A lot of their descriptions of evolution are extremely distorted or plain fabricated. If you want an informative and factual look at how evolution works, go to http://www.talkorigins.org/origins/faqs-evolution.html

Answer 7

Darwin was writing based upon his mid-19th century observations. It is not the state of the art analysis of current evolution studies. It is not an ancient text to be followed blindly and to institute an inflexible dogma; it was a starting point to start exploring from.

It's not really relevent unless you are looking at the history, the evolution, of evolution studies.

Answer 8

At the time it was the leading book in the field.
But times and technology change. We now know a LOT more than Darwin did. But we are always amazed as to how accurate he was.

Answer 9

Yes, I've read it and I found the writing to be a bit stilted but the information to be, as far as I am able to tell, made sense to me and resonated with me. However, there are more up--to-date books about evolution such as Stephen Jay Gould's "Hens Teeth and Horses Toes" which are also quite informative and accurate.

Answer 10

I've read it and many, many subsequent articles expanding on Darwin's original premise. Evolution not only happened, it is still happening. Deal with it.

Answer 11

I have it but I haven't got round to reading it. Everything I know about evolution comes from the writings of Richard Dawkins.