Seite - 506 - in The Origin of Species
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506 ORIGIN OF SPECIES
manner. We clearly see this in the fossil remains from con-
secutive formations invariably being much more closely re-
lated to each other, than are the fossils from widely separated
formations.
Such is the sum of the several chief objections and diffi-
culties which may be justly urged against the theory; and I
have now briefly recapitulated the answers and explanations
which, as far as I can see, may be given. I have felt these
difficulties far too heavily during many years to doubt their
weight. But it deserves especial notice that the more im-
portant objections relate to questions on which we are con-
fessedly ignorant; nor do we know how ignorant we are.
We do not know all the possible transitional gradations be-
tween the simplest and the most perfect organs ; it cannot be
pretended that we know all the varied means of Distribution
during the long lapse of years, or that we know how imper-
fect is the Geological Record. Serious as these several ob-
jections are, in my judgment they are by nomeans sufficient to
overthrow the theory of descent with subsequent modification.
Now let us turn to the other side of the argument. Under
domestication we see much variability, caused, or at least
excited, by changed conditions of life
; but often in so obscure
a manner, that we are tempted to consider the variations as
spontaneous. Variability is governed by many complex laws,
—by correlated growth, compensation, the increased use and
disuse of parts, and the definite action of the surrounding
conditions. There is much difficulty in ascertaining how
largely our domestic productions have been modified; but we
may safely infer that the amount has been large, and that
modification can be inherited for long periods. As long as
the conditions of life remain the same, we have reason to
believe that a modification, which has already been inherited
for many generations, may continue to be inherited for an
almost infinite number of generations. On the other hand,
we have evidence that variability when it has once come into
play, does not cease under domestication for a very long
period ; nor do we know that it ever ceases, for new varieties
are still occasionally produced by our oldest domesticated
productions.
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Buch The Origin of Species"
The Origin of Species
- Titel
- The Origin of Species
- Autor
- Charles Darwin
- Verlag
- P. F. Collier & Son
- Ort
- New York
- Datum
- 1909
- Sprache
- englisch
- Lizenz
- PD
- Abmessungen
- 10.5 x 16.4 cm
- Seiten
- 568
- Schlagwörter
- Evolutionstheorie, Evolution, Theory of Evolution, Naturwissenschaft, Natural Sciences
- Kategorien
- International
- Naturwissenschaften Biologie
Inhaltsverzeichnis
- EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION 5
- AN HISTORICAL SKETCH of the Progress of Opinion on the Origin of Species 9
- INTRODUCTION 21
- Variation under Domestication 25
- Variation under Nature 58
- Struggle for Existence 76
- Natural Selection; or the Survival of the Fittest 93
- Laws of Variation 145
- Difficulties of the Theory 178
- Miscellaneous Objections to the Theory of Natural Selection 219
- Instinct 262
- Hybridism 298
- On the Imperfection of the Geological Record 333
- On the Geological Succession of Organic Beinss 364
- Geographical Distribution 395
- Geographical Distribution - continued 427
- Mutual Affinities of Organic Beings: Morphology: Embryology: Rudimentary Organs 450
- Recapitulation and Conclusion 499
- GLOSSARY 531
- INDEX 541