How old the idea of scientists before Darwin influence Darwin's ideas? __

Scientists before Darwin, such as Lamarck, Cuvier, and Lyell, had varying ideas about evolution and the origin of species. Lamarck proposed the idea of acquired characteristics, where traits acquired during an organism's lifetime could be passed on to offspring. Cuvier focused on catastrophic events leading to the extinction of species. Lyell emphasized gradual geological processes.Darwin was influenced by these ideas. Lamarck's concept of adaptation and inheritance of acquired traits may have influenced Darwin's early thinking. Cuvier's emphasis on extinction events likely contributed to Darwin's understanding of the importance of adaptation for survival. Lyell's uniformitarianism provided Darwin with a geological framework for gradual changes over time.Overall, Darwin synthesized these influences to develop his theory of natural selection, where traits advantageous for survival are passed on to future generations, leading to the gradual evolution of species.