Survival of the Fittest and Special Creation Theory
We would agree that accidents account for many deaths of individuals in a species, evolutionary scientists have proved that many traits and inherited characteristics do not equip the individual to survive in the face of aspects of the environs in which he exists, particularly the fight for survival that particularly distinguishes the life and death of the animals. Naturally, what may be called bad luck or accident results in many deaths of individuals who otherwise would well suited to live, but given that this process goes on continuously over long stretches of time, we see that slowly a genetic disposition will begin to emerge.
Herbert Spencer called this phenomenon the “survival of the fittest,” and although the term may not be strictly correct in the instance of any one species in any given time period, when we regard that the battle is going on every year, during the total lifespan of each species, we cannot doubt that overall those who survive are among the fittest. The battle is so tough and so persisting that the slightest weakness in any sense organ and any physical imperfection will almost certainly, sooner or later, be fatal.
This continual weeding out of the less fit, in every generation will produce two diverse outcomes, which require to be clearly described. The first is the preservation of each species in the highest state of adaptation to the circumstances of its existence. As long as these conditions stay unaltered, the outcome of natural selection is to maintain each well-adapted species unaltered.
The second of these conditions occurs whenever the environmental conditions change. The most suited individual will adapt more successfully, and the spontaneous process of natural selection will occur more quickly, matching to the conditions. This process will ultimately bring about complete adaptation to the new conditions. Some writers admit pure chance, but assert that the action of natural selection in weeding out the unfit and thus keeping every species in the most optimal state of adaptation.
The topic of natural selection and survival of the fittest does not figure into the present-day argument between the proponents of evolution theory, intelligent design theory, and creation theory. In the evolution, intelligent design, creationism debate the matter of natural selection is almost a dead end point of contention, given that evolution theory and intelligent design theory are in moderate agreement on the matter, while creation theory refuses it completely. The artwork by Michelangelo of Adam and God is a symbol of the specialness of man in the eyes of creation theory adherents.
