rationalskepticism.org

DavidMcC wrote:

CharlieM wrote:Not the evidence gathered by doing lab experiments or making models of supposed reality, but the evidence gained from patiently studying nature directly.

And you think that Darwin didn't gather evidence by direct study of nature during his Beagle voyage?

Darwin is a good example of a brilliant naturalist. By his observations it was demonstrated that species aren't immutable, that life evolves over time. David Attenborough is another good example of someone who brings to the general public their enthusiasm of the natural world.

So I think that through his writings Darwin furthered our understanding of the natural world by a tremendous amount, because he was such a good observer of nature.