Darwin's concept of the struggle for existence was inspired by the essay on population written by

  • A. Thomas Malthus
  • B. Herbert Spencer
  • C. Charles Lyell
  • D. Alfred Wallace

Explanation

Malthus argued that human populations grow faster than food supply, and Darwin saw the same pressure in nature: far more offspring are born than can survive. Lyell's geology shaped Darwin's timescale, but the struggle came from Malthus.

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