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A contemporary of Charles Darwin who developed his own theory of evolution in parallel, British biologist and explorer ALFRED RUSSEL WALLACE (1823-1913) here explores the current state of Darwinism as a scientific theory as it stood in 1889, when this book was originally published. Natural selection was under fire as an insufficient explanation for evolution, but Wallace believed that this was only because it was not understood properly.
To combat the opponents of natural selection, he offers examples of evolution at work in nature, including a study of variation and coloration, sterility in crossbreeds, fertilization methods in plants, and the importance of the struggle for survival.
A good primer for anyone wanting to know more about Darwin's theory of evolution, Darwinism is written in an easy-to-read style that will appeal to readers from any academic discipline.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
THE CO-DEVELOPER OF "NATURAL SELECTION" GIVES HIS VIEWS ON EVOLUTION,
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This review is from: DARWINISM: An Exposition of the Theory of Natural Selection with Some of Its Applications (Paperback)
Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913) was the co-creator of the theory of Natural Selection, and his pending publication of his ideas prompted Darwin to finally publish his own book in 1859. While Wallace himself never wrote a "major" theoretical book, this 1889 book is an interesting statement of his mature ideas on the subject.He notes that Darwin "did his work so well that descent with modification is now universally accepted as the order of nature in the organic world." "The idea of special creation or any altogether exceptional mode of production is absolutely extinct!" Wallace rejects several portrayals of Evolutionary theory. For example, he rejects the theory of the inheritance of acquired characteristics (which Darwin accepted), "there is much reason for believing that such acquired characters are in their nature non-heritable." He also writes, "the poet's picture of 'Nature red in tooth and claw'... is a picture of evil which is read into it by our imaginations." His later advocacy of Spiritualism (e.g., Miracles and Modern Spiritualism, A Defence Of Modern Spiritualism, etc.) discredited Wallace in the eyes of some scientifically-minded persons. Nevertheless, he concludes the book on the note, "the Darwinian theory ... lends a decided support to, a belief in the spiritual nature of man." This is an often-overlooked, but very illuminating book for anyone intersted in the development of evolutionary theory.
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hind toe, accessory plumes, protective tints, insect fertilisation, physiological variety, cleistogamic flowers, insect agency, sterile unions, warning colours, animal coloration, remote oceanic islands, swamping effects, mathematical faculty, mongrel offspring, conspicuous colours, incipient species, independent variability Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New Zealand, North America, South America, South Africa, United States, New Guinea, Sandwich Islands, Professor Huxley, Jenner Weir, Pacific Islands, Professor Meldola, Grant Allen, Professor Geddes, Professor Judd, West Indies, Neck Lacerta, Porto Santo, Professor Marsh, West Indian, Northern Asia, Sir John Lubbock, Lower Silurian, Dean Herbert, Herbert Spencer, Linnean Society Browse Sample Pages:
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hind toe, accessory plumes, protective tints, insect fertilisation, physiological variety, cleistogamic flowers, insect agency, sterile unions, warning colours, animal coloration, remote oceanic islands, swamping effects, mathematical faculty, mongrel offspring, conspicuous colours, incipient species, independent variability Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New Zealand, North America, South America, South Africa, United States, New Guinea, Sandwich Islands, Professor Huxley, Jenner Weir, Pacific Islands, Professor Meldola, Grant Allen, Professor Geddes, Professor Judd, West Indies, Neck Lacerta, Porto Santo, Professor Marsh, West Indian, Northern Asia, Sir John Lubbock, Lower Silurian, Dean Herbert, Herbert Spencer, Linnean Society Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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