An Analysis of the Struggle for Existence and Darwin's Theory

This essay examines the connection between the concept of the 'struggle for existence,' as described by various scholars, and Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. It highlights Darwin's explanation of how species evolve through natural selection, a concept Herbert Spencer termed 'survival of the fittest.' The paper discusses how Darwin's theory, introduced in 'Origin of Species,' emphasizes the reproduction and adaptation of individuals to changing environments. It further explores the ideas of Malthus, Huxley, and Kropotin, who contributed to the understanding of this struggle, either supporting or opposing Darwin's views. The essay concludes that evolution is an ongoing process where individuals compete to survive, and while Darwin's theory remains relevant, modern scholars propose changes to reflect contemporary societal differences. Desklib provides access to similar essays and study resources for students.

Running head: SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST
Running head: SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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The struggle for survival among individuals and other plants and animals has been a
continuous process which initiated almost three to four billion years ago. Numerous numbers of
species have disappeared from this planet because they could not steadily adapt to the changes
that took place around them. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the relationship between the
various concepts given on the idea of the ‘Struggle for Existence’ by different scholars and the
theory of evolution developed by Charles Darwin. The battle for survival is an endless process
for all living beings because of the rapid changes that take place on Earth and according to
Charles Darwin, species have to go through a process of ‘natural selection’ which Herbert
Spencer termed as the ‘survival of the fittest’. The paper attempts to explain how the various
explanations on the struggle of existence are related to the theory of evolution developed by
Charles Darwin.
Charles Darwin is considered to be one of the pioneers on the theory of evolution.
Charles Darwin in his book named the Origin of Species, published in the year 1859, described
how individuals and other living beings have to undergo a process of evolution with the
changing environments around them. Darwin mentioned that every individual (including
animals) have to reproduce against all hindrances in order for the off springs to continue with
their generation that would provide a basis of existence for them. Darwin also mentioned that,
even though there was a rapid multiplication of individuals in a specific species, the number of
individuals almost remained the same. Darwin in his book explained how resources like food
were scarce and there was growth in the number of individuals which led to a fight for
possessing the resources among different species, in order to fulfil their survival necessities.
Charles Darwin examined that regardless of individuals belonging from the same species
possessed non-identical variation considering their shape and size. Darwin emphasised on the

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concept of natural selection in his book, by which he tried to explain the process of how
individuals survive and reproduce off springs with the changes taking place naturally. Artificial
selection, according to Darwin, was intentionally made by individuals for their better survival,
but natural selection was decided by the environment in which individuals lived, and the changes
taking place in the environment was the real battle to be fought, for a species to exist. Natural
selection as defined by Charles Darwin is the change in the inherited genes of individuals from
their ancestors which include their colour and shape that enables the species to develop from one
generation to another by adapting to the environmental changes. This process is also known as
micro evolution. Macroevolution on the other hand, refers to a different kind of natural selection
in which individuals that have evolved over the time, do not have similarities with their
ancestors. The process of natural selection gave birth to a new form of species that have no
identical traits compared to their ancestors that includes the style of locomotion, as well as their
behavioural patterns. For example; it is believed that birds have evolved from dinosaurs; whales
have evolved from amphibian mammals and human beings from apes.
The concept of struggle for existence can be deciphered as a constant battle by human
beings, animals and plants to survive varying environmental conditions in order to survive and
reproduce. It refers to the competition among individuals in the hunt of gathering resources,
needed for their survival. The term struggle for existence was first used by a 17th century scholar
named Thomas R. Malthus, in his book Principle of Population, where the main concern of the
author was the exceeding of human population compared to the resources available. Malthus’s
theory of population stated that if the growth of individuals increased at geometrical rate, that is,
2,4,8,16,32,64,…. then the population of a specific area would get doubled in twenty five years.
Charles Darwin expanded the idea of struggle for existence, where Darwin mentioned that every

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organism has the potential to grow their number of individuals in a uniform multiplication order,
but they cannot do so because of the limited availability of resources needed for their survival
and also due to the climatic changes, which every member in a particular species cannot adapt
with. Epidemic and other fatal diseases are also some of the reasons that cause a species to perish
away rapidly. Further this idea of struggle for existence was taken forward by a scholar named
T.H. Huxley where he mentioned that the struggle for existence was inevitable in human beings,
but he enforced more emphasis on the intellectual struggle where humans compete with one
another with their ideas, rather than the struggle of gathering for resources. Huxley did not agree
with Darwin with the theory of natural selection, though he appreciated Darwin’s idea of
struggle for existence. This phenomenon of the struggle for existence has been also explained
and interpreted by many scholars around the world, who have also linked the same concept, in
which species have to struggle in order to survive, or else it would lead to a complete extinction
of their species. Though, there has been opposing ideas from a Russian scholar named P.A.
Kropotin, who belonged from the western thought of philosophy. Kropotin mentioned that
mutual aid and cooperation among individuals was greater than the battle of competing for
resources. Kropotin also mentioned that mutual struggle of existence was better than the struggle
of competing for the process of natural selection. Though, Kropotin’s philosophy was based on
the examination of individuals who inhabited a vast area of land where the possibility of sharing
resources, rather than competing for them was possible because of the abundance of resource and
lack of individuals. This idea was in opposition to Darwin’s theory of natural selection because
according to Kropotin, Darwin’s examination was based on the coastal areas which were
supposedly over populated and that was the reason which made individuals struggle to compete

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for gathering resources. Though, Kropotin’s idea was lately regarded to add mere complexity to
the theory of the struggle of existence, which was considered to have more relevance.
Therefore, the paper concludes on a note, that evolution has been an unending process
that started millions of years ago and every individual in this process of evolution has to compete
with other individuals in order to survive. The theory of evolution that was proposed by Charles
Darwin in his book On the Origin of Species, that was written almost 160 years ago, still proves
to be relevant in the twenty first century. Though, there have been many criticisms and
oppositions on the Darwin’s theory of evolution, the relation of the struggle of existence and the
theory of evolution has been widely accepted by various biologists and scholars of genetics.
However, several changes have been proposed by recent scholars because the society Darwin
examined and the society that exists today are significantly different. Though, the relevance of
the struggle of existence among competing individuals will continue to be a process of evolution
till the time living organisms survive on this planet.