DARWINISM : 



ITS WEAK AND STRONG POINTS. 



(Read before the Cincinnati Society of Natural History, Oct., 1879.) 



Darwinism, so called, is not a complete and stead- 

 fast doctrine, but a somewhat disjointed combination 

 of theories and speculations invented to account for 

 the origin, continuance, and variation of organic forms 

 on the earth. Hypotheses of a kindred character 

 were discussed by the ancient Egyptians, and after- 

 ward obtained support from Aristotle, as well as other 

 classic philosophers. Views of a similar character 

 have been entertained by liberal minds of every age. 

 At a comparatively recent date, substantially the same 

 ideas were collated and expanded by Jean Lamarck, a 

 French physicist and contemporary of Cuvier. 



The theory of the birth and development of the 

 organic kingdom, to say nothing of the evolution of 

 the sidereal and solar systems, did not spring full 

 grown from a single brain, but proves to be the patch- 

 work of many contributors, the most methodical and 

 scientific of whom was Charles Darwin, an English 

 naturalist of great experience, industry, and ability. 

 The doctrine of Evolution, as applied to cosmic 

 changes and organic development, was well along 

 toward recognition a century ago, but it required the 

 mind of a profound scientist to elaborate the many 

 facts and fancies into -the semblance of a system. 

 Darwin could do no better than to adopt the theories 



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