THE FACTORS OF ORGANIC EVOLUTION 



THE word Darwinismus is widely used on the 

 Continent, especially in Germany, and its English 

 equivalent is familiar to us, but there are serious 

 objections to its use. It cannot be taken as a 

 synonym for organic evolution, since the origin of 

 species by natural processes had frequently been 

 suggested before Darwin's birth. The only other 

 meaning the word can bear is the doctrine of the 

 origin of species by natural selection, which Darwin 

 brought into so much and so necessary prominence. 

 This use of the term is not only illegitimate but 

 quite unfair to Darwin, who was one of the broadest 

 minded of men and had not a trace of the dogmatist 

 in his composition. Darwin expressly asserted 

 that he attributed to the inheritance of acquired 

 characters an important share in the origin of 

 man. He dealt with this at no length, for the 

 excellent reasons that the principle had already 

 been enunciated by Lamarck, and that he himself 

 had his hands full in elucidating his own contribu- 

 tion to the discussion. 



In considering the factors of organic evolution, 



