In the 19th century, particularly after the publication of On the Origin of Species in 1859, the idea that life had evolved was an active source of academic debate centred on the philosophical, social and religious implications of evolution.
I det 19. århundrede, især efter Charles Darwins offentliggørelsen af Arternes Oprindelse i 1859, var tanken om, at livet havde udviklet sig via evolution, en aktiv kilde til akademiske debat centreret om de filosofiske, sociale og religiøse konsekvenser af evolution.