Darwinism

Darwinism (Charles Darwin, 1850s) – mechanisms proposed by Darwin for the transformation of forms over time (including the evolutions as species, meanings, and customs) and increases in diversity and complexity (e.g., within an ecosystem, social collective, or culture). Epistemologically, the emergence of Darwinism triggered a profound break with modernist beliefs—in particular, the assumption that the universe is pregiven and unchanging. It is important to note that, although Darwinian or evolutionary processes are often assumed to be directional (e.g., from lower, simpler, or worse to higher, more complex, or better), Darwin’s theory did not propose a direction, merely mechanisms for transformation and diversification.

Please cite this article as:
Davis, B., & Francis, K. (2022). “Darwinism” in Discourses on Learning in Education. https://learningdiscourses.com.