• Darwin’s theory

Many know Lamarck as the french scientist that proposed an alternative theory to Darwin’s famous theory on evolution. Today, through studies of genetics we acknowledge Darwin’s theory is fact. A key difference between the two theories, is how each scientist explained the passing down of traits. Darwin’s theory shows that the game of genetics isn’t ‘fair’; some organisms have a better chance of survival because of their inherited differences, which are passed down from parents and predetermined. These predetermined differences can make or break or organism’s survival: those with favorable traits end up living on to reproduce while those that do not end up dying before reproducing, a phenomenon that we know commonly as natural selection.

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this is also where Lamarck’s theory differs from Darwin. While Darwin theorized that organisms all had inherent traits (genes) and that evolution occurs when the inherited traits of a species has changed; Lamarck believed that organisms can acquire certain traits over a lifetime, and therefore pass those ‘learned’ traits down to their offspring.

• genes

Mother nature is not that nice, she doesn’t make sure every organism is adapted. Organisms are born either adapted or not: a misconception in Lamarck’s theory. In his theory, he assumes that all members of a species adapt together through their lifetime, that each generation would become more adapted.

• natural selection

In such a modernized world, we (for the most part) do not need to experience natural selection. Most people live without fear of a predator, and with enough resources to sustain themselves. Success in the past may have just been having enough resources to survive, but now, it is more determined in social status. So now instead of competing for food and other resources directly, we are competing for things like jobs and opportunities.

• You don’t have to reinvent the wheel

While we might not necessarily be able to pass down our knowledge from generation to generation directly as ‘traits’, we can provide future generations with what we already know, with opportunities and connections. So that they don’t have to figure each thing out themselves again with trial and error. Even though Lamarck may have been wrong about how traits are passed down biologically, he still does have a point; that we can pass down our experiences and knowledge: just in a different way.

• That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind!

How do adaptations occur? Darwin’s theory focuses on the evolution of the individual, while Lamarck sees it as the evolution of a whole species. If we see this as more than just biological, and more in a social sense Lamarck is right. Any new finding or innovation that makes humans more adapted to the environment is a finding/innovation for all humans. This is different from a biological adaption, because you can’t share a gene mutation existing members of your species.

• Lamarck was in the wrong room

While Darwin’s theory is regarded as true in a biological sense, maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss Lamarck’s theory: it may not be applicable to biological evolution, however if we look at social evolution it all comes together. Social evolution is “notion that culture generally develops (or evolves) in a uniform and progressive manner.” Lamarck’s ideas on how we can pass down experiences and knowledge gained in each generation to the next is exactly how we evolve socially today. For example, we have invented many things like ACs and heaters to adapt to our environments, without needing to wait centuries for a random genetic mutation to come along and help us become more tolerant to different climates. Instead of pitching the idea with biologists, Lamarck would’ve definitely performed better with a crowd of philosophers or anthropologists; studying a different side: an arguably more important side of human evolution, social evolution. Darwin’s theory of evolution certainly does not tell the whole story of human evolution, and how we got to where we are today: being able to adapt ourselves/our climates in our favor. Even though Lamarck is known as the ‘guy who got evolution wrong’, he really was just the ‘guy who was right, in the wrong room’.