CHAPTER XII 



FOR AND AGAINST DARWIN 



M 



Why Dartvin s theory prevailed 

 'oDERN CRITICS have often asked themselves how it is that a hypothe- 

 sis like Darwin's, based on such weak foundations, could all at 

 once win over to its side the greater part of contemporary scien- 

 tific opinion. If the defenders of the theory refer with this end in view to 

 its intrinsic value, it may be answered that the theory has long ago been 

 rejected in its most vital points by subsequent research. It has also been 

 pointed out, for instance by Radl, that the objections made against the the- 

 ory on its first appearance very largely agree with those which far later 

 brought about its fail. The factors governing the victory of Darwinism thus 

 represent a problem of the greatest importance, not only in the history of 

 biology, but also in that of culture in general — a problem that would re- 

 quire far more exhaustive treatment than can be given to it here. In this 

 work we can only endeavour to throw light on some of the circumstances 

 that appear to be specially remarkable surrounding this important episode, 

 the history of which it will largely be the duty of future generations to 

 write. 



Darwinism and liberalism 

 Darwin's origin of species contains many points that were likely both to 

 win the applause of and to give ofTence to his contemporaries. A factor that 

 without doubt very largely contributed to both the one and the other was 

 the book's relation to the political movement of the time, to which refer- 

 ence has already been made. From the beginning Darwin's theory was an 

 obvious ally to liberalism; it was at once a means of elevating the doctrine 

 of free competition, which had been one of the most vital corner-stones of 

 the movement of progress, to the rank of a natural law, and similarly the 

 leading principle of liberalism, progress, was confirmed by the new theory — 

 the deeper down the origin of human culture was placed, the higher were 

 the hopes that could be entertained for its future possibilities. It was no 

 wonder, then, that the liberal-minded were enthusiastic; Darwinism must 

 be true, nothing else was possible. But beside this there was a good deal 

 more in it that could attract radical cultured views, chiefly its strongly 

 worded polemic against the doctrine of creation, which could be employed 

 to counteract theological obscurantism, and also the very idea of a material 



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