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Did Darwin plagiarize his evolution theory? (article)
Creation Ministries International ^ | 1-24-2014 | Jerry Bergman

Posted on 01/24/2014 8:50:18 AM PST by fishtank

Did Darwin plagiarize his evolution theory?

by Jerry Bergman

Some historians believe that all of the major contributions with which Darwin is credited in regard to evolution theory, including natural selection, actually were plagiarized from other scientists. Many, if not most, of Darwin’s major ideas are found in earlier works, especially those by his grandfather Erasmus Darwin. Charles Darwin rarely (if ever) gave due credit to the many persons from whom he liberally ‘borrowed’. This review looks at the evidence for this position, concluding that much evidence exists to support this controversial view.

wikipedia.org Erasmus-Darwin Erasmus Darwin (1731–1802) A common (but erroneous) conclusion is that Charles Darwin conceived modern biological evolution, including natural selection.1 An example of statements commonly found in the scientific literature indicating this would be the comment by Michael Fitch: ‘Not until Darwin, did anyone draw the same conclusion … except Alfred R. Wallace. … But Darwin undoubtedly preceded him in the conception of the theory’ of evolution by natural selection.2 A study of the works of pre-Darwinian biologists shows that, in contrast to this common assumption, Darwin was not the first modern biologist to develop the idea of organic evolution by natural selection.3,4

Furthermore, most (if not all) of the major ideas credited to Darwin actually were discussed in print by others before him. De Vries noted that some critics have even concluded that Darwin did not make any major new contributions to the theory of evolution by natural selection.5 A study of the history of evolution shows that Darwin ‘borrowed’ all of his major ideas—some feel plagiarized would be a more accurate word—without giving due credit to these people. A few examples are discussed below.

(Excerpt) Read more at creation.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: creation; darwin; plagiarize
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Erasmus Darwin (1731–1802).

Charles in the parlor ... "Yep, ol' grand dad was always writin' and readin' and doin' all kinds of stuff at that ol' desk over there, and there's this big ol' drawer full of all kinds of stuff ---- hey! hot diggity, lookie here at this ol' book' that grand daddy must 'uv written....!!! Maybe I can sell it! Hmmmmm.... Better yet, mebbe I kin put MY name on it and sell MILLIONS of copies.... He he, yeah, that's the ticket."

(fishtank's screen play for the new production: "Liberalism is a Plagiarism Disorder.")

/sarc

Yeah, that's a takeoff on Savage's book, I admit, but I couldn't resist.

1 posted on 01/24/2014 8:50:18 AM PST by fishtank
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To: fishtank

Using wikipedia as evidence? The text that ANYONE can change.


2 posted on 01/24/2014 8:55:03 AM PST by jim_trent
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To: fishtank

Anyone with even the slightest familiarity with the decades of extremely diligent and detailed work Charles Darwin did to formally flesh out and elucidate the underpinnings of the theory knows the answer to this question.

OTOH, if your only scientific text starts with “In the beginning God...”

I wouldn’t expect much in the way of reasoned argument, nor openness to the fruits of actual observation.


3 posted on 01/24/2014 9:01:20 AM PST by null and void (We need to shake this snowglobe up.)
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To: fishtank

was he the Joe Biden of his time?


4 posted on 01/24/2014 9:02:03 AM PST by 12th_Monkey (One man one vote is a big fail, when the "one" man is an idiot.)
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To: fishtank

Just curious...

What are the “falsifying criteria” for this evolution theory?


5 posted on 01/24/2014 9:02:47 AM PST by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: fishtank

6 posted on 01/24/2014 9:11:54 AM PST by sickoflibs (Obama : 'If you like your Doctor you can keep him, PERIOD! Don't believe the GOPs warnings')
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To: fishtank
This one sums it up perfectly


7 posted on 01/24/2014 9:14:57 AM PST by sickoflibs (Obama : 'If you like your Doctor you can keep him, PERIOD! Don't believe the GOPs warnings')
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To: sickoflibs

Stupid diagram. That shows the Scientific Method vs Creationism.

It’s as if Evolutionists have been using the scientific method all these years.

There isn’t a SHRED of evidence to support evolution. It’s like asserting the earth is flat. Human’s evolved from fish.

Really? Got any evidence that any trans-species evolution has ever occurred, ever?

There is a world of difference between Adaptation and Evolution. Lots and lots of scientific evidence for Adaptation, and zero for evolution.

Now carbon-14 dating is under scrutiny. Seems it doesn’t work since the theory behind it is flawed.

No matter we used to believe that the speed of light was constant (it isn’t). We also used to believe it was the cosmic speed limit (it isn’t).

Imagine what we’ll ‘know’ tomorrow.


8 posted on 01/24/2014 9:22:13 AM PST by RinaseaofDs
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To: RinaseaofDs
RE :”Stupid diagram. That shows the Scientific Method vs Creationism.”

Its perfect. It shows exactly what the scam Creationism is.

Creationism: Complain that a bone or two is missing from a fossil collection, or take a evolutionists quotes out of context where he disagrees with a colleagues theory, and than stamp your complaints with “Real Science theory here” stamp.

Where's the evidence of Creationism's 'theory' below. Creationist scammers s have zero interest in that.


9 posted on 01/24/2014 9:29:13 AM PST by sickoflibs (Obama : 'If you like your Doctor you can keep him, PERIOD! Don't believe the GOPs warnings')
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To: null and void

Darwin was incredibly thorough.

He died with Gregor Mendel’s paper on genetics, which Mendel sent Darwin, unopened.


10 posted on 01/24/2014 9:30:49 AM PST by ifinnegan
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To: fishtank

LoL


11 posted on 01/24/2014 9:34:19 AM PST by StoneWall Brigade
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To: null and void

“I wouldn’t expect much in the way of reasoned argument, nor openness to the fruits of actual observation.”

Yeah, the God-fearing being all unscientific and stupid and backwards and all...

I believe all Wisdom begins with fear of God and yet I don’t have the slightest problem with a theory of evolution that is demonstrated.

So far it assumes things it can’t show, if that changes, wonderful.


12 posted on 01/24/2014 9:35:55 AM PST by TalBlack
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To: fishtank

This is certainly not unknown or controversial. Everyone knows Wallace and Erasmus were presenting similar ideas.

This is how it is with just about all science, then and now. Nothing comes out of a vacuum which few exceptions of true genius, such as Mendel’s studies on genetic inheritance.

Darwin’s work shouldn’t be belittled because it was not wholly original with him. It was influential and he put the work in.

Yet, the contemporary phenomenon of his being raised up to iconic, Demi-god status (that people even in this thread seem to hold to) is bizarre and not benign, nor meant to be benign.


13 posted on 01/24/2014 9:37:10 AM PST by ifinnegan
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To: fishtank

Here we have more proof that Darwin’ s theory of evolution was not only false but corrupt.

Thanks for posting the real facts.


14 posted on 01/24/2014 9:37:50 AM PST by Oliviaforever
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To: sickoflibs

” It shows exactly what the scam Creationism is.”

You think?

Wow, your so intelligent and brave.


15 posted on 01/24/2014 9:38:22 AM PST by ifinnegan
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To: sickoflibs

16 posted on 01/24/2014 9:38:50 AM PST by Fiji Hill
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To: ifinnegan
Which was a pity. Mendel provided the one missing piece Darwin's theory lacked, the underlying mechanism for how traits were inherited.
17 posted on 01/24/2014 9:39:26 AM PST by null and void (We need to shake this snowglobe up.)
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To: null and void

Well, yes.

My point is Darwin was not all that on the ball.

Nor were any of these social elites of Europe who argued things in their elitist shells. It’s kind of like today.

They all ignored Mendel because he was a nobody.

And they didn’t have the curiosity and didn’t really have the understanding if they did pay some attention to Mendel’s findings.

Darwin’s importance to biology is quite exaggerated and this is a newer phenomenon.


18 posted on 01/24/2014 9:49:16 AM PST by ifinnegan
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To: fishtank

Voltaire expressed the fundamentals of Darwinism (natural selection) at least 70 years before Charles Darwin was born. And even then, Voltaire was simply elaborating on the philosophy of Epicurus, who of course pre-dates Darwin by millenia.

I can get the English translated quote and source once I get home, but I believe it comes from Voltaire’s Philisophical Dictionary.


19 posted on 01/24/2014 9:59:08 AM PST by angryoldfatman
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To: ifinnegan
RE :” It shows exactly what the scam Creationism is.”
....
You think? Wow, your so intelligent and brave.”

‘your so’ ??

I have a talent for identifying scams and creationism is one of the worst.

20 posted on 01/24/2014 10:00:44 AM PST by sickoflibs (Obama : 'If you like your Doctor you can keep him, PERIOD! Don't believe the GOPs warnings')
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