Darwinism (1889): An Exposition of the Theory of Natural Selection with some of its Applications

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, New Age, History, Fiction & Literature
Cover of the book Darwinism (1889): An Exposition of the Theory of Natural Selection with some of its Applications by Alfred Russel Wallace, Library of Alexandria
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Alfred Russel Wallace ISBN: 9781465542939
Publisher: Library of Alexandria Publication: March 8, 2015
Imprint: Language: English
Author: Alfred Russel Wallace
ISBN: 9781465542939
Publisher: Library of Alexandria
Publication: March 8, 2015
Imprint:
Language: English
The present work treats the problem of the Origin of Species on the same general lines as were adopted by Darwin; but from the standpoint reached after nearly thirty years of discussion, with an abundance of new facts and the advocacy of many new or old theories. While not attempting to deal, even in outline, with the vast subject of evolution in general, an endeavour has been made to give such an account of the theory of Natural Selection as may enable any intelligent reader to obtain a clear conception of Darwin's work, and to understand something of the power and range of his great principle. Darwin wrote for a generation which had not accepted evolution, and which poured contempt on those who upheld the derivation of species from species by any natural law of descent. He did his work so well that "descent with modification" is now universally accepted as the order of nature in the organic world; and the rising generation of naturalists can hardly realise the novelty of this idea, or that their fathers considered it a scientific heresy to be condemned rather than seriously discussed. The objections now made to Darwin's theory apply, solely, to the particular means by which the change of species has been brought about, not to the fact of that change. The objectors seek to minimise the agency of natural selection and to subordinate it to laws of variation, of use and disuse, of intelligence, and of heredity. These views and objections are urged with much force and more confidence, and for the most part by the modern school of laboratory naturalists, to whom the peculiarities and distinctions of species, as such, their distribution and their affinities, have little interest as compared with the problems of histology and embryology, of physiology and morphology. Their work in these departments is of the greatest interest and of the highest importance, but it is not the kind of work which, by itself, enables one to form a sound judgment on the questions involved in the action of the law of natural selection. These rest mainly on the external and vital relations of species to species in a state of nature—on what has been well termed by Semper the "physiology of organisms," rather than on the anatomy or physiology of organs
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
The present work treats the problem of the Origin of Species on the same general lines as were adopted by Darwin; but from the standpoint reached after nearly thirty years of discussion, with an abundance of new facts and the advocacy of many new or old theories. While not attempting to deal, even in outline, with the vast subject of evolution in general, an endeavour has been made to give such an account of the theory of Natural Selection as may enable any intelligent reader to obtain a clear conception of Darwin's work, and to understand something of the power and range of his great principle. Darwin wrote for a generation which had not accepted evolution, and which poured contempt on those who upheld the derivation of species from species by any natural law of descent. He did his work so well that "descent with modification" is now universally accepted as the order of nature in the organic world; and the rising generation of naturalists can hardly realise the novelty of this idea, or that their fathers considered it a scientific heresy to be condemned rather than seriously discussed. The objections now made to Darwin's theory apply, solely, to the particular means by which the change of species has been brought about, not to the fact of that change. The objectors seek to minimise the agency of natural selection and to subordinate it to laws of variation, of use and disuse, of intelligence, and of heredity. These views and objections are urged with much force and more confidence, and for the most part by the modern school of laboratory naturalists, to whom the peculiarities and distinctions of species, as such, their distribution and their affinities, have little interest as compared with the problems of histology and embryology, of physiology and morphology. Their work in these departments is of the greatest interest and of the highest importance, but it is not the kind of work which, by itself, enables one to form a sound judgment on the questions involved in the action of the law of natural selection. These rest mainly on the external and vital relations of species to species in a state of nature—on what has been well termed by Semper the "physiology of organisms," rather than on the anatomy or physiology of organs

More books from Library of Alexandria

Cover of the book Death With Music, a Complete Novelet by Alfred Russel Wallace
Cover of the book The Two Wives: Lost and Won by Alfred Russel Wallace
Cover of the book The Foolish Almanak by Alfred Russel Wallace
Cover of the book Artistic Anatomy of Animals by Alfred Russel Wallace
Cover of the book Aphrodite: Moeurs Antiques by Alfred Russel Wallace
Cover of the book British Secret Service During the Great War by Alfred Russel Wallace
Cover of the book The Works of James Arminius (1560-1609) (Complete) by Alfred Russel Wallace
Cover of the book The Stronger Influence by Alfred Russel Wallace
Cover of the book Labrador Days by Alfred Russel Wallace
Cover of the book White Horse by Alfred Russel Wallace
Cover of the book Plum Punch: Life at Home by Alfred Russel Wallace
Cover of the book The Sufi Message of Hazrat Murshid Inayat Khan: The Art of Being by Alfred Russel Wallace
Cover of the book Lorraine: A Romance by Alfred Russel Wallace
Cover of the book Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy by Alfred Russel Wallace
Cover of the book Sarah Bernhardt as I knew her: The Memoirs of Madame Pierre Berton as told to Basil Woon by Alfred Russel Wallace
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy