Pre-Darwinian Theories of the Modern World

Today, we'll explore the evolution of Evolution Theory!  There were a number of scientists leading up to the time of Charles Darwin that contributed to the development of the scientific method and evolutionary theory.  

James Ussher
Carolus Linnaeus
John Ray
Comte de Buffon
Erasmus Darwin
George Cuvier
Charles Lyell
James Hutton

As we discuss each scientist, we'll discuss their contributions using these questions as a guide.

1. In what time period did your scientist live?
2. What branch of science did your figure study?
3. What was this person's primary contribution to scientific study?
4. How did his theories affect the development of evolutionary theory?
5. What was the importance of The Great Chain of Being?
6. How did it differ from Linnaeus' System of Classification?

Read and fill out the worksheet on Lamarck's view of evolution.