Section outline

  • View of Earth from space, showcasing continents and clouds.

    How old is Earth?
    ::地球几岁了?

    Earth is now believed to be over 4.5 billion years old. But during Darwin's time, most people believed that the Earth was only about 6,000 years old. If Darwin hadn't learned about the work of geologists that suggested that the Earth was much older, he might have never have developed his theory of evolution.
    ::如今,地球被认为已经超过45亿年了。 但在达尔文时代,大多数人认为地球只有6000年的历史。 如果达尔文没有了解地质学家的工作,他们认为地球比地球老得多,那么他可能从未发展过进化理论。

    Darwin's Influences
    ::达尔文的影响

    When Darwin returned to England five years later, in 1836, at the end of his voyage, he did not rush to announce his discoveries. Unlike other naturalists before him, Darwin did not want to present any ideas unless he had strong evidence supporting them. Instead, once Darwin returned to England, he spent over twenty years examining specimens, talking with other scientists and collecting more information before he presented his theories.
    ::当达尔文五年后,即1836年回到英国时,他并没有急于宣布他的发现。 与之前的其他自然学家不同,达尔文不想提出任何想法,除非他有有力的证据支持。 相反,达尔文回到英国后,他花了20多年的时间检查样本,与其他科学家交谈,收集更多信息,然后才提出理论。

    Some of Darwin’s ideas conflicted with widely held beliefs, including those from religious leaders. At that time, many people believed that organisms never change and never go extinct, and that the world was only about 6,000 years old, always existing in the same way, never changing. These beliefs delayed Darwin in presenting his findings.
    ::达尔文的一些观点与广泛持有的信仰,包括宗教领袖的信仰相冲突。 当时,许多人认为生物永远不会改变,也永远不会灭绝,世界只有6000岁左右,总是以同样的方式存在,永远不会改变。 这些信仰推迟达尔文提出他的结论。

    How did Darwin come up with his theories? Charles Darwin was influenced by the ideas of several people.
    ::达尔文如何提出他的理论?查尔斯·达尔文受到好几个人的想法的影响。

    1. Before the voyage of the Beagle , Jean-Baptiste Lamarck proposed the idea that species change over time. However, Darwin differed with Lamarck on several key points. Lamarck proposed that traits acquired during one’s lifetime could be passed to the next generation. Darwin did not agree with this.
      ::在比格尔号航行之前,让-巴蒂斯特·拉马克(Jean-Baptiste Lamarck)提出了物种随时间而变化的想法。 然而,达尔文和拉马克在若干关键点上与拉马克不同。 拉马克(Lamarck)提出,一个人一生中获得的特征可以传给下一代。 达尔文不同意这一点。
    2. The findings of Charles Lyell , a well-known geologist, also influenced Darwin. Lyell's writings taught Darwin about geology, paleontology, and the changing Earth. Lyell's findings suggested the Earth must be much older than 6,000 years. And the evolution of life, as Darwin was developing his ideas, would definitely take much longer than just 6,000 years. During the Voyage of the Beagle , Darwin observed of sea life high up in the mountains. What must happen to the Earth for this to occur?  Darwin, using the readings of Lyell, took this as evidence of a constantly changing Earth. 
      ::著名地质学家查尔斯·莱尔(Charles Lyell)的发现也影响了达尔文。莱尔的著作让达尔文了解地质学、古生物学和变化中的地球。莱尔的研究结果表明地球必须比6,000年长得多。随着达尔文的构思的发展,生命的进化肯定要花上6000年的时间。在比格尔的航行期间,达尔文观测到了高山的海洋生物。要发生这种情况,地球必须发生什么?达尔文利用莱尔的解读,把它当作一个不断变化的地球的证据。
    3. After the Voyage of the Beagle , another naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace ( Figure ), developed a similar theory of evolution by natural selection . Wallace toured South America and made similar observations to Darwin's. Darwin and Wallace presented their theories and evidence in public together. Due to the large number of observations and conclusions he made, Darwin is mostly credited and associated with this theory.
      ::另一位自然学家Alfred Russel Wallace(Figure )在比格尔的《Voyage》之后,另一位自然学家Alfred Russel Wallace(Figure )通过自然选择发展了类似的进化理论,Wallace访问了南美洲,并提出了与达尔文的类似意见。达尔文和华莱士一起公开提出了他们的理论和证据。由于他提出了大量的意见和结论,达尔文大部分都与这一理论有关。

    Alfred Russell Wallace, a naturalist who co-developed the theory of evolution by natural selection.

    Alfred Wallace developed a similar theory of evolution by natural selection.
    ::Alfred Wallace通过自然选择开发了类似的进化理论。

    Imagine developing a theory that conflicted with widely held beliefs of the time, as Darwin did. Imagine pulling together material from all these different people, adding his own findings, and turning it all into his theory. Imagine the torment Darwin must have endured during this time, knowing the skepticism that would follow the release of his findings. But, upon his death, Darwin was given one of the highest honors in England. Darwin is buried in Westminster Abbey, the final resting place of many of England's kings and queens. Why was he buried in such an important spot?
    ::想象一下发展出一个与当时广泛持有的信仰相冲突的理论,就像达尔文那样。想象一下从所有这些不同的人那里收集材料,增加他自己的发现,并将其全部变成他的理论。想象一下达尔文在这段时期必须经受的折磨,他知道在公布其发现后会受到的怀疑主义。但是,达尔文死后获得了英格兰的最高荣誉之一。达尔文被埋葬在英国许多国王和王后最后的安息地威斯敏斯特修道院。为什么他葬在如此重要的地方?

    Summary
    ::摘要

    • Darwin’s ideas conflicted with widely held beliefs, such as the idea that organisms never change and that the world was only about 6,000 years old.
      ::达尔文的想法与广泛持有的信仰相冲突,比如说,生物永远不会改变,世界只有大约6000年的历史。
    • Darwin was influenced by other scientists, including Lamarck, Lyell, and Wallace.
      ::达尔文受到其他科学家的影响,包括拉马克、莱尔和华莱士。

    Explore More
    ::探索更多

    Use the resource below to answer the questions that follow.
    ::利用以下资源回答以下问题。

    • Nova: Great Minds Think Alike at .
      ::诺瓦:伟大的思想 思考类似在。
    1. Where did Wallace travel? How did he pay for his trip?
      ::华莱士去了哪里?
    2. What happened to the collections Wallace collected in South America?
      ::华莱士在南美洲收集的藏书呢?
    3. How does the Malay Archipelago compare to the Galapagos Islands?
      ::马来群岛与加拉帕戈斯群岛相比如何?
    4. What is the Wallace Line?
      ::华莱士线是什么?

    Review
    ::回顾

    1. Compare and contrast Darwin's and Lamarck's views of evolution.
      ::比较和对比达尔文和拉马克对进化的看法
    2. Why did Darwin hesitate to publish his theory?
      ::为什么达尔文犹豫要发表他的理论?
    3. Who was Charles Lyell? What significant aspect of Lyell's influenced Darwin?
      ::查尔斯・莱尔是谁?
    4. Who was Alfred Wallace?
      ::谁是阿尔弗雷德·华莱士?