"In October 1838, that is, fifteen months after I had begun my systematic inquiry, I happened to read for amusement Malthus on Population, and being well prepared to appreciate the struggle for existence which everywhere goes on from long- continued observation of the habits of animals and plants, it at once struck me that under these circumstances favourable variations would tend to be preserved, and unfavourable ones to be destroyed. The results of this would be the formation of a new species. Here, then I had at last got a theory by which to work".Charles Darwin, from his autobiography. (1876)
(http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/malthus.html)
Thomas Malthus's was a British scholar as well as an ordained Minister of the Church of England in 1788 and is best remembered for his work on his "Essay on the Principal of Population (1789)"
In his essay, he suggested that both the human and animal populations grow by rapid multiplication and that there will always be more people and animals than the availability of food. Malthus also "believed that so-called "positive checks" (such as plagues and starvation) and "preventive checks" (such as birth control measures and delayed marriage), worked to keep population growth and food growth in balance." http://www.allaboutscience.org/malthus-faq.htm
Malthus opinion about surviving amongst each other inspired Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection - overproduction of offspring because during his time, the island in which he lived was extremely overpopulated and it was a struggle to survive; to eat. "Darwin noted that the population-food imbalance postulated by Malthus would lead to competition between offspring. He considered that some of those offspring would be better equipped for the struggle than others, and so would flourish. This "survival of the fittest" became the central theme to Darwin's developing theory."
Could Darwin have thought up the overpopulation of offspring on his own without Malthus influence? Maybe but Malthus definitely was a big influence on his theory especially after Darwin's five year voyage on the HMS Beagle and reading Maltus's "Essay on the Principal of Population."
I believe Darwin was a bit hesitant to proceed with his book due to the fact he was worried what the church might think of his opinions and findings - that he kept a lot of things to himself. However, on many occasions, he shared his thoughts with his brother, Darwin didn't want the church, in my opinion, to take his opinions to literally, hence perhaps ousting him in some way.
Darwin's wife, Emma was very religious and he often worried his marriage would end up in separation due to his opinions.
I believe Darwin was a bit hesitant to proceed with his book due to the fact he was worried what the church might think of his opinions and findings - that he kept a lot of things to himself. However, on many occasions, he shared his thoughts with his brother, Darwin didn't want the church, in my opinion, to take his opinions to literally, hence perhaps ousting him in some way.
Darwin's wife, Emma was very religious and he often worried his marriage would end up in separation due to his opinions.
