On the Origin of Species
For those of you that missed it, yesterday (24th November) was the 165th anniversary of Charles Darwin's landmark book 'On the Origin of Species,' first published in 1859. The work is one of the foundations of evolutionary biology, and one of the most important scientific works of the 19th century (possibly of all time). In my humble opinion, it certainly remains one of the most influential scientific works in human history, particularly relevant in the context of today’s world marked by antivax, anti-science and disinformation.
Imagine a world that has had enough of experts that considers the acquisition of knowledge to be “elitist.” We don’t have to imagine though, we saw an ex-member of the UK government claim that “people have had enough experts,” simply to counter the challenge that leading economists and organizations of economic prestige had predicted that Brexit would be a disaster for the UK. History has proved how misinformed and disingenuous that statement was and a whole generation in the UK has paid the price. We frequently see how it is not expert knowledge but an opinion market on Twitter that determines whether a newly emergent strain of avian flu is contagious to humans, or whether greenhouse gas emissions do in fact cause global warming [1-4].
Power lies with those most vocal and influential on social media: from celebrities and big corporations to botnet puppeteers who can mobilise millions of tweetbots or sock puppets—that is, fake online personas through which a small group of operatives can create an illusion of a widespread opinion [5, 6]. In such an environment, experts are derided as untrustworthy or elitist whenever their reported facts threaten the rule of the well-financed or the prejudices of the uninformed. This isn’t greatly different from the challenge faced by Darwin in the 1850s. Darwin was concerned about the reaction of his scientific colleagues, the religious establishment, and the public. He was afraid that his ideas would disrupt his relationships with people who held more traditional views, including his wife.
Nevertheless, we can thank Darwin (or his friend Charles Lyel for encouraging him) for changing his mind and promoting critical thinking and scientific literacy. Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection is a cornerstone of modern biology. It exemplifies the scientific method, where observations lead to hypotheses that are tested and refined over time. This process highlights the value of evidence-based reasoning, a critical skill in combating disinformation. In an era where pseudoscience and conspiracy theories proliferate, Darwin’s work is a reminder of the importance of reasoned scepticism, data, and peer review.
The concept of adaptation through natural selection extends beyond biology. In today’s fast-changing world, Darwinian principles can help explain phenomena such as the evolution of misinformation itself. For example, false information “mutates” and spreads in favourable environments (e.g., social media filled with defenceless minds) where it gains attention and traction, akin to the survival of advantageous traits in biological populations.
During the 2016 US presidential campaign, independent fact checker PolitiFact judged 70% of all statements by Donald Trump to be false or mostly false. Both the 2016 and 2024 US elections confirms that his comparatively impoverished record of accuracy does not diminish his attractiveness with large numbers of voters – in fact, you might say they preferred to hear his messages.
The dissociation between accuracy and President Trump’s attractiveness to voters is underscored by recent laboratory research investigating the effects of corrections on voters’ beliefs and voting intentions presented statements that President Trump made on the primary campaign trail to a large sample of participants and elicited belief ratings [7]. Half the statements were true and the other half consisted of false claims. When participants were informed of the false statements their belief ratings changed accordingly or at least the majority of them did. However, for Trump supporters there was no association between the extent to which they shifted their belief when a statement was corrected and their feelings for President Trump or their intention to vote for him. Thus, it seems that untruths do not matter to his supporters—at least they did not matter sufficiently to alter their feelings or voting intentions. As Mark Twain allegedly said, “The truth has no defence against a fool determined to believe a lie.” Accept there is no evidence that Mark Twain said any such thing.
Darwin’s work has historically been at the centre of debates over science and education, particularly in discussions about evolution versus creationism or intelligent design. Even now, these debates persist in some parts of the world, reflecting broader issues about the politicisation of science and the role of evidence in public discourse. This parallels modern struggles against the spread of false narratives in fields like climate science, medicine, and technology. The principles of natural selection have influenced fields beyond biology, including sociology, psychology, and technology. Understanding these interdisciplinary applications might just help us navigate challenges like misinformation in social networks, which will often “evolves” to exploit human cognitive biases.
Darwin’s work highlights how scientific ideas develop through collective inquiry, building on prior knowledge—unlike religious dogma that relies on suppressing advanced thinking. For example, Darwin’s theory integrated observations from geology, taxonomy, and embryology. And this counters another popular fiction, that of the “Eureka” moment experienced by great inventors—the lonely genius working in his garret with the light bulb that goes blink in his head. If we learn anything from Darwin it is that none of the great advances in science occurred in isolation. Einstein, Max Plank and Marie Currie all borrowed from other people's work. As Newton said (perhaps one of the greatest scientific egotists) - "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants" [8]. There is no saying when a golden age of enquiry started but Darwin’s 'On the Origin of Species,' must stand as a milestone.
Why should we be concerned about the past – because if you don't know how you got somewhere, you don't know where you are. Equally, can we look into the past and see the future? You may not care, except, of course, you'll have to live with the result, it's your future. The collaborative approach of the scientific method is a powerful counter to disinformation, which often thrives on fragmented or isolated data—an environment open to exploitation by by scoundrels and fraudsters. In a world overwhelmed by information—accurate and otherwise—Darwin’s On the Origin of Species provides a framework for valuing evidence, understanding complexity, and fostering intellectual humility. It underscores the need for a culture that prizes knowledge grounded in inquiry rather than one driven by sensationalism or ideology.
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