The impact of Darwin’s metaphor in teaching evolutionary theory

In explaining complex scientific concepts, metaphors are often used. However, the types of metaphors can have an influence on our understanding of the scientific concepts. Pramling considers the metaphors Darwin used to explain evolution and the implications of those metaphors in learning evolutionary theory. He argues that his use of particular metaphors has complicated the ways in which people understand and reason about evolution, partly because they require a complex understanding of time that is difficult to grasp.