Adaptation and Evolution

Lamarck suggests that species change because of a "felt need," and such needs make organisms respond creatively. For Lamarck, evolution takes place in an upward fashion and does so because organisms want this to be the case. Gould says that Lamarckianism is a theory of directed variation, meaning that a felt need is actually a perception on the part of the organism so that the need is then fulfilled and the organism changes, at least for subsequent generations. The Lamarckian approach has often been mistaken for the Darwinian approach, and people ask how organisms can progress deliberately, as if they were able to choose what they were and as if evolution had a direction, a purpose, and a conscious control.

Darwin's approach is not so simple and involves a two-part process. Adaptation is the process by which organisms respond to a change in their environment. These organisms evolve a new form, function, or behavior. Both Lamarck and Darwin accept the role of adaptation and base their theories on its mechanisms, and for both theorists, the environment conveys information to the organism bringing about the adaptive response. For Lamarck, the organism perceives the environmental change and adapts

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nmental system reflecting the new ideas expressed by these men. Since that time, the mechanism they set in motion has been modified as needed, and indeed a certain Lamarckian ability to respond to a felt need was included in the system so that the people could bring about change through an amendment process. Such changes at this level produce more changes throughout society. Indeed, we continue to this day to develop our culture based on felt needs at different levels, making small or large changes as we see fit in order to accomplish the task at hand. We do the same thing in our lives, changing our behavior according to new environmental influences. One who plots the violent overthrow of the government has committed an offense that extends beyond any immediate intended victims. The offense is to every man, woman, and child who is under the protection of that government, and thus the offense is much greater than that of murder. Murder is, of course, involved in this case, and Catiline and the other conspirators intended to murder certain specific legislators and leaders. Yet, those murders, had they been carried out, would not have been as heinous as the underlying destruction of the rights of every citizen. The death
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1571
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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