Early evolutionists, such as Lamarck, proposed teleologies in which living things are innately driven to progressively evolve more advanced adaptations. By the mid-19th century 'evolution' had evolved to mean not just the developmental changes that occurred in individuals during their lifetimes, but directional changes observed in species across the geological timescales preserved within the fossil record. Scientists used it to describe the embryonic development of an individual, back when it was thought that every human grew from a homunculus, a complete miniature person contained within sperm, just waiting to 'evolve' ( Horder, 2010). To evolve originally meant to unroll, implying the roll-out of a predetermined form ( Bowler, 1975). Experts agree that this widely parodied image gives the wrong impression, but the feeling that evolution is progressive persists. Look at the March of Progress, for example: in this infamous illustration a knuckle-dragging beast gradually evolves to become an erect intelligent human. These other areas include, somewhat surprisingly, the study of evolution. However, it is also found in many areas of human culture and scholarship that one might expect to be free from divine influence. This idea – known as teleology – is central to religious thinking. It is hard to ignore the sense that life has purpose.
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