Did Darwin Really Say ‘Evolve’ and ‘Evolution’?

Many people have questioned whether Charles Darwin actually used the terms ‘evolve’ and ‘evolution’ in his seminal work, On the Origin of Species, published in 1859. The answer is, not as often as you might think.

Terms Darwin Preferred

While Darwin did not use the terms ‘evolve’ and ‘evolution’ in the first edition of On the Origin of Species, he did use other words and phrases that convey the essence of what we now recognize as evolution. For instance, he often used terms like ‘adaptation to changing environmental conditions’ to describe the process he observed in nature.

The Context of On the Origin of Species

Wouldn't Darwin Have Known About These Terms? Yes, Darwin was a university-trained educated man, including Anglican priesthood training, which would have given him a deep understanding of the long history of the word ‘evolution’.

‘Evolve’ and ‘evolution’ were used in his time for embryonic development. Darwin was changing the usage, making it a term for the change in species over time rather than simply referring to developmental processes.

Using the Words in Later Editions

By the 6th edition of On the Origin of Species, Darwin did use the terms ‘evolve’’ and ‘evolution’ more frequently. He stated, 'In the following years Darwin did use the term “evolution". By the 6th Edition of Origin of Species, Darwin writes:

*‘As a record of a former state of things I have retained in the foregoing paragraphs and elsewhere several sentences which imply that naturalists believe in the separate creation of each species and I have been much censured for having thus expressed myself. But undoubtedly this was the general belief when the first edition of the present work appeared. I formerly spoke to very many naturalists on the subject of evolution and never once met with any sympathetic agreement. It is probable that some did then believe in evolution but they were either silent or expressed themselves so ambiguously that it was not easy to understand their meaning. Now things are wholly changed and almost every naturalist admits the great principle of evolution.’* [424]

Charles Darwin and Religion

Darwin, as a university-trained educated man from an Anglican family, understood the long existence of the word ‘evolution’ and its various meanings. He believed in YHWH as the Creator God, but his views were shaken by the deep tragedies, such as the death of a close family member. He believed in the idea of creation by YHWH and the transmission of traits through 'gemmules,' but his understanding of genetics was limited by the times. Evolution, to him, meant the adaptation of species to changing environments, a concept far removed from the genetic understanding of evolution we have today.

Later Works and Correspondence

Darwin used the term ‘evolution’ and ‘evolutionist’ in his book The Descent of Man and in his letters, indicating he was comfortable with the term but used it in a specific context related to adaptation and survival.

Conclusion

It is interesting to note that characters in the story of Darwin are still resonant and relevant today. Understanding the historical context and language of Darwin's time helps us appreciate his work and the evolution of our understanding of biology. It is important to remember that while Darwin did not use the modern scientific terms and concepts, his work laid the foundation for the evolution of the field of biology as we know it today.

Keywords: Charles Darwin, Evolution, Origin of Species

[424] Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species, 6th Edition, p. 424.