According to Darwin, what primarily determines survival in nature?

The concept of natural selection is fundamental to Darwin's theory of evolution. It posits that in a given environment, individuals with traits that provide a survival advantage are more likely to reproduce and pass on those advantageous traits to their offspring. Over time, this process leads to adaptations within species, resulting in the gradual evolution of organisms.

Natural selection operates on the idea that not all individuals within a species have the same chance of survival due to variations in their traits. These variations could be in physical characteristics, behavior, or any trait that could aid in survival and reproduction in a specific environment. Consequently, natural selection is accountable for the changes in species and the emergence of new ones over generations, fundamentally shaping the biodiversity we observe today.

The other options do not align with Darwin's scientific explanations. Design implies a purpose or intention behind the formation of organisms, which contradicts the randomness inherent in natural selection. Similarly, intelligence suggests a cognitive capacity guiding survival, which does not apply universally across species. Divine purpose suggests that a higher power deterministically influences survival, a view that Darwin's findings do not support as they are framed in naturalistic terms. Thus, natural selection stands out as the correct answer, encapsulating the mechanism by which evolution occurs according to Darwin's