For centuries, humankind lived under the illusion that it was the master of the universe. However, this belief did not last forever. There is no single date or individual to whom we can attribute the end of this illusion. Rather, its gradual decline resulted from a series of scientific and philosophical shifts that challenged humanity’s centrality in the universe. This historical shift can be divided into several major milestones.
The first was the shock of the Copernican Revolution in 1543, when Nicolaus Copernicus discovered that the Sun, not the Earth, was at the center of the universe. His discovery came as a profound shock to Christian religious thought. Then, in 1609, the Italian scientist Galileo pointed his telescope toward the heavens and discovered numerous planets and stars. Philosophers and religious figures began to realize that the universe was far more expansive than suggested by exegetical texts.
Humankind managed to conquer space and build the most powerful telescopes. In the mid- 20th century, Edwin Hubble proved that the Milky Way is just one galaxy among billions in the universe, and that the universe is constantly expanding. Modern telescopes have revealed that there are trillions of galaxies, not just billions.
Humanity has come to realize that planet Earth is merely a grain of sand lost in the vast ocean of deep space. Isaac Newton, arguably the most important scientist in human history, proved that the universe operates according to mathematical laws and that there is no need to explain everything through religious texts.
Einstein proved that seemingly finite things, such as space, time, and reality, are relative, and that our intuition about the universe is flawed. It’s that simple. The mathematician Alan Turing also succeeded in redefining the meaning of thinking and questioning whether machines are capable of it.
The English scientist Charles Darwin played a crucial role in revealing the limitations of human capabilities and securing his place in human history. Without his discoveries, modern science would not have developed antibiotics and insulin. These are products of scientists’ understanding of the theory of evolution, which has become a scientific fact, supported by evidence day after day.
Without it, medicine and biology would not have advanced, nor would the branch of medicine known as evolutionary medicine, which is based primarily on Darwin’s observations, have emerged. Dr. Khaled Montasser, an Egyptian consultant and researcher, notes that Darwin’s book “On the Origin of Species” was published on November 24, 1859.
The book explained that life is shaped by natural selection, or the preservation of the most favored races, in the struggle for survival. Every patient who has received a liver or heart transplant, or whose life has been saved by medication or surgery, owes a debt to the brilliant idea of evolution that Darwin gave to humanity. Despite this, many continue to resist new ideas and oppose evolution.
By Ahmad alsarraf
Email: a.alsarraf@alqabas. com.kw
Email: a.alsarraf@alqabas. com.kw
