The first sentence of Darwin's introduction immediately sets Darwin up as a credible source, as a naturalist, similar to other scientists of the time, and as someone who researched 'in the field' in South America. On the first page, he continues to mention himself 17 times ("I", "me", and "my" included) and tries to 'one-up' his arch nemesis, Alfred Russel Wallace. Okay, so maybe they are not arch enemies, but they did think of the same theory of natural selection, at the same time; Darwin spent 20 years thinking about it, Wallace spent only a few. Anyhow, Darwin writes, "It occurred to me, in 1837, that something might perhaps be made out on this question" (1). Certainly, Darwin mentioned the year of the conception of his theory to tell the public that he did, indeed, discover the theory before Wallace. I see it as the blessing and curse of scientific research: Many people are striving to discover the world and all of its intricacies, but they all compete with each other because once a discovery is made, it can never be discovered again.
Then, at the end of the introduction, Darwin confidently disregards the theory of special creation - that is, that each creature was intentionally created by God, not that the creatures came to be through natural laws. He writes, "the view which most naturalists entertain, and which I formerly entertained - namely, that each species has been independently created - is erroneous" (6). I love the word erroneous. Perhaps, in Darwin's time nothing was special about the word, but I see it as a complete 'shut-down' of the recipient of the label. Hence, it is completely, utterly, entirely false and untrue that each species was created separately. So says Darwin.
On to Chapter 1 - Variation Under Domestication! In Chapter 1, Darwin makes an effective comparison between domestic variation and natural variation. In order for Darwin's theory to work, variations must naturally occur and then certain ones must be naturally selected, causing evolution of species. Here, Darwin argues that people witness variation among their domestic animals, so why can't variations occur in nature? Sure, domestic animals are actively bred, and there is a "selector" deciding which variations stay and which go, but Darwin is always a proponent of the power of nature. Humans are nothing compared to its forces. (That's a slight paraphrase.)
My favorite part of Chapter 1 is the pigeons! Yes, Darwin goes on and on about pigeons. He has good reason though - everybody loves pigeons. In Victorian England, pigeons were bred by commoners. The idea of breeding pigeons was a familiar one and a hobby to many. Darwin also appeals to the lower class, and thereby a broad audience, by mentioning the significance of pigeons. Now all of the pigeon breeders feel important and start listening to Darwin's ideas. At least, that's one way to look at it.
Darwin is kind to all fellow men as he writes, but he is not afraid to put down the classic Greek philosophers. Part of Aristotle's view on nature was that every creation has a final cause, or a purpose. Darwin, however, disagrees. On page 37, still comparing natural selection to domestic selection, Darwin writes that gardeners never plan for the final plant they end up with. Along the way, they choose variations that they like, and continually improve the plant. Natural selection works the same way. The creation does not have a final purpose, as the great Aristotle might say, rather, according to Darwin, each variation is selected by nature because it is beneficial to the organism (not because the organism is striving for a goal).
Darwin ends Chapter 1 by asserting the power of nature and the power of his theory (pompous prose? I think so):
"Over all these causes of Change I am convinced that the accumulative action of Selection, whether applies methodically and more quickly, or unconsciously and more slowly, but more efficiently, is by far the predominant Power" (43).
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