Question

How does Darwin's struggles and anxiety indicate he is wrestling with those same cultural influences?

Answer 1

Darwin's struggles and anxiety indicate that he is wrestling with those same cultural influences because he was living in a time when the dominant cultural belief was that species were fixed and unchanging. Darwin's theory of evolution challenged this belief, and he faced significant opposition and criticism from the scientific and religious communities. His struggles and anxiety show that he was aware of the cultural influences that were shaping the scientific discourse of his time, and he was trying to reconcile his theory with these cultural beliefs.

Answer 2

Answer: A cultural factor that can influence scientists’ thinking that adaptation must follow some sort of plan can be religion. Today some religious groups see Darwin as the embodiment of the devil because Darwin argued that adaptation through natural selection and in religion “natural law is an expression of God’s will.”