Only through exploration can truth be found. One must have an enduring and steadfast drive if any real answers are to be sustained. In Rachel Carson’s article “The Sunless Sea,” this exact idea is explained through the example of the vast oceans on earth. Carson states that the earth is mostly covered by miles of lightless water that humankind has yet to explore. We, as the human race, are unsure about all the details within this vast, unexplored area. This gives a good argument for the exploration of scientific truth within the marine world, along with urging an overall exploratory attitude in regards to every aspect in life. Again, if we never have the drive to search, we will never find.
Many facts, whether it be about the marine kingdom or not, have been revised due to exploration. For example, it was once thought that the bottom of the ocean was uninhabitable. We, as humans, could never survive down there; we still cannot reach the very bottom of the deepest part of the ocean (cameras will before we will). Therefore, the thought process was, how could anything else possibly survive in such conditions. Through exploration, this has been disproved. We know that many creatures, from bacteria to fish, live in such conditions. This has taught us a lot about evolution, development, etc. How does this tie in with Charles Darwin? Without his drive to know more about this very topic of evolution, we would essentially be “in the dark” about ideas we believe to be facts at present time.
A better understanding of the unknown will spark new drives, and therefore, new truths. We need people like Darwin, Carson, etc to keep the drive alive. Carson inquires, why aren’t we continuing to explore everyday for new discoveries? We should concentrate more on understanding our surroundings than destroying them through our current lifestyles. This is a very interesting article that convinced me to start seeing my surroundings as beautiful and uncharted.