OpenSAT

Question #N277

In the late 19th century, the burgeoning field of scientific inquiry was profoundly shaped by the rise of Darwinism. However, the public’s reception of Darwin’s theories was not universally welcoming. In his book “The Descent of Man,” Charles Darwin, a prominent British naturalist, discussed the implications of natural selection, arguing that human beings, like other species, evolved over time. But Darwin’s work also introduced a provocative idea: humans shared a common ancestor with apes. This notion challenged long-held religious beliefs about the divine creation of humankind and sparked intense debate within the scientific community and beyond. The controversy surrounding Darwin’s theories exposed a fundamental conflict between scientific progress and traditional religious dogma, a conflict that continues to resonate in contemporary discussions about the nature of life and humanity.