Who was the first to propose an objective definition of instincts in terms of animal behavior?
Correct answer: D. Darwin
- A. Wallace
- B. Lamarck
- C. Lyell
- D. Darwin
Explanation
The correct option is D. Darwin was the first to propose an objective definition of instincts in terms of animal behaviour. In his 1859 book On the Origin of Species, Darwin defined instinct as "the faculty of acting in such a way as to obtain certain ends, without being guided by reason or experience." He argued that instincts were the result of natural selection and that they were passed down from parents to offspring. Darwin's definition of instinct was later refined by other scientists, but it remains the foundation of our understanding of instinct today.
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About Evolution
Evolution describes heritable change in populations over generations through variation, natural selection and adaptation. Lamarckism explains inheritance of acquired characteristics, while Darwinism explains selection of favourable inherited variations; these historical explanations must not be confused with the modern genetic account of evolutionary change.
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