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[[File:Evolution.jpg|alt=evolution darwin theory|right|thumb|201px|Late in [[Charles Darwin|Charles Darwin's]] life, Darwin told the Duke of Argyll that he frequently had overwhelming thoughts that the natural world was the [[Intelligent design|result of design]].<ref>[https://electricscotland.com/history/glasgow/anec305.htm The Duke of Argyll and Mr. Darwin - As told in Glasgow]</ref> See also: [http://creation.com/15-questions 15 questions for evolutionists] ]]
[[File:Alfredwallace.jpg|alt=evolution darwin theory|right|thumb|201px|Alfred Russel Wallace is the co-discoverer of ''natural selection'' along with Charles Darwin. He eventually came to hold a view that differed from Darwin in that higher intelligences were involved in the evolution of some species such as man.]]
The fundamental statement of '''natural selection''' is that heritable traits which are beneficial will tend to become more numerous in successive generations, while heritable traits which are harmful will tend to become more scarce. The traits are defined to be beneficial if they become more numerous in successive generations. This principle is general, and applies to any system of individuals which reproduce; it is most commonly applied to systems of living organisms.
The fundamental statement of '''natural selection''' is that heritable traits which are beneficial will tend to become more numerous in successive generations, while heritable traits which are harmful will tend to become more scarce. The traits are defined to be beneficial if they become more numerous in successive generations. This principle is general, and applies to any system of individuals which reproduce; it is most commonly applied to systems of living organisms.
It is sometimes summarized by the slogan, ''survival of the fittest'', where the "fittest" are the organisms which leave the most offspring. This means that "fitness" is determined by the environment; for example, a penguin is very good at producing offspring when it lives in Antarctica, but wouldn't be so good if it lived in the Sahara.
It is sometimes summarized by the slogan, ''survival of the fittest'', where the "fittest" are the organisms which leave the most offspring. This means that "fitness" is determined by the environment; for example, a penguin is very good at producing offspring when it lives in Antarctica, but wouldn't be so good if it lived in the Sahara.
Natural selection is often thought of as being synonymous with [[Theory of evolution|evolution]],<ref>For example, a draft [[New Zealand]] science curriculum confuses the two. Lamb, Andrew, [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/5047/ Evaluating an evolutionary science curriculum], 14th April, 2007 (Creation Ministries International).</ref> although they are distinct concepts, and most [[creationism|creationists]] accept that natural selection is a real, observed, process.
Natural selection is often thought of as being synonymous with [[Theory of evolution|evolution]],<ref>For example, a draft [[New Zealand]] science curriculum confuses the two. Lamb, Andrew, [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/5047/ Evaluating an evolutionary science curriculum], 14th April, 2007 (Creation Ministries International).</ref> although they are distinct concepts.
Alfred Russel Wallace who was the co-discoverer of ''natural selection'' along with Charles Darwin, came to see that nature exhibited design and purpose with evolution.<ref>Alfred Russel Wallace. 1911. [https://archive.org/details/worldoflifemanif00wallialaThe World of Life: A Manifestation of Creative Power, Directive Mind and Ultimate Purpose]</ref> His views challenge the Darwinist view of evolution and allow for a an overlap between design, intelligence, purpose with natural selection and evolution.<ref>Flannery, M.A. Alfred Russel Wallace’s Intelligent Evolution and Natural Theology. Religions 2020, 11, 316. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11060316</ref><ref>Flannery, Michael A. 2011. Alfred Russel Wallace’s Theory of Intelligent Evolution: How Wallace’s World of Life Challenged Darwinism, rev ed. Riesel: Erasmus Press</ref>
Microevolution and natural selection are accepted to occur by all creationists,<ref name="nat">Numbers RL. Ironic Heresy: How Young-Earth Creationists Came to Embrace Rapid Microevolution by Means of Natural Selection. In: Lustig A, Richards RJ, Ruse M, eds. Darwinian Heresies. Cambridge University Press; 2004:84-100.</ref> but macroevolution and the limits of natural selection is what is usually disputed.<ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/evolution/?srsltid=AfmBOopLgbKLuo1T0WUtyPAE_oC6BsxXISw-TLyKw37AXTXDbMH77y-v Evolution - Answers in Genesis]</ref><ref name="nat" />
Alfred Russel Wallace, a naturalist, was the co-discoverer of natural selection along with [[Charles Darwin]]. Wallace eventually came to believe that nature exhibited design and purpose with evolution.<ref>Alfred Russel Wallace. 1911. [https://archive.org/details/worldoflifemanif00walliala The World of Life: A Manifestation of Creative Power, Directive Mind and Ultimate Purpose]</ref> His works on natural selection were around in the 1850s and some works on the uniqueness of man occurred in the 1860s.<ref name="wallacenat">Alfred Russel Wallace. [https://wallace-online.org/converted/pdf/1895_NaturalSelection_S725%5B2d%5D.pdf Natural Selection and Tropical Nature: Essays on Descriptive and Theoretical Biology] important works on natural selection: "The Law which has Regulated the Introduction of New Species" (1855) and of course "On the Tendency of Varieties to Depart Indefinitely from the Original Type" (1858); on the the limits on natural selection and man see "Limits of Natural Selection as Applied to Man" (1869)</ref> His views challenge the Darwinist view of evolution and allow for a an overlap between design, intelligence, purpose with natural selection and evolution.<ref>Flannery, M.A. Alfred Russel Wallace’s Intelligent Evolution and Natural Theology. Religions 2020, 11, 316. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11060316</ref><ref>Flannery, Michael A. 2011. Alfred Russel Wallace’s Theory of Intelligent Evolution: How Wallace’s World of Life Challenged Darwinism, rev ed. Riesel: Erasmus Press</ref>
==History of the concept of natural selection==
==History of the concept of natural selection==