Charles Darwin
Lamarckianism was now discredited, and the question of
evolution remained a mystery. Many scientists rejected evolution
and the Great Chain of Life feeling that its concepts had no
place in biological science. The key was produced by the theorist
of the "dismal science" of economics, Thomas Malthus. Malthus
said that human (and animal) populations increased at a geometric
rate, whereas food supply increased only at an arithmetic rate.
Therefore population was continually outstripping food supply,
and was kept in check only by starvation, or by indirect acts
such as war and diseases.
Malthusianism raised a very good question which is not easily
noticed. Which individuals survived in hard times, and which
died? Luck was probably the largest factor, but not the only one,
other factors applied, such as the strong, the courageous, or the
adaptable had a somewhat better chance of surviving than those
who lacked those characteristics. To the degree that strength,
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