His name is one that is now associated with the discredited view of evolution. Although both argued facts about evolution, Lamarck had a different point of view when it came to evolution and how things continued to evolve. Darwin believed that due to natural selection and available resources, a mechanism was able to adapt to their environment. He believed the traits of the organisms were inherited and passed from generation to generation. He believed in survival of the fittest.
Lamarck believed that organisms altered their behavior in response to the environment change as well but his view was that heritable modifications would allow the organisms to continually change and become more complex. I believe that both had similar theories of adapting to the environment but Lamarck had a theory that they were continually changing and becoming a more "perfect" species instead of relying on available resources while Darwin argued that traits were being passed down through generation. I believe that Darwin could of developed his theory of natural selection without the influence of Lamarck because he Lamarck had a totally different view of evolution than Darwin. Darwin already had his theory using science to prove it.
The attitude of the church affected Darwin's publication of On the
Origin of Species by making religious communities immediately take opposing sides and positions on each other. Although, may christians were warming up to the idea that evolution was a possibility.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/02/3/l_023_01.html
