05.17.08
Origin of the specious confusion: Darwin and Malthus
Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution was influenced by Malthus, and, indeed, became an elaboration of the Malthusian concept. Evolutionary theory has often and commonly been maligned, misunderstood and misconstrued. Many people, godly and godless, educated and uneducated both, seem to think that evolution is a gradual and definite progression towards increasing states of perfection. That each successive generation necessarily gets better than the previous. These individuals may point to an apparent intellectual regression and genetic stalling in humans today as “proof” that the theory of evolution is false. They suggest that we are not evolving, because not only do we collectively seem to not be getting any smarter, a great many among us appear to be getting less intelligent, and our behavioral tendencies are relatively unchanged. As if they expect us to be more than or other than human, and without any provocation.