CHAPTER II 



Darwin and "The Origin of Species" 



A double element in the Darwinian theories: Transmutation and 

 natural selection.— How the idea of transmutation first en- 

 tered Darwin's mind; the journey of the Beagle.— The 

 Malthusian theory and selection.— "The Origin of Species." 

 —Evidence from geology, geography, embryology, classifi- 

 cation.— The origin of man.— The conflict between the new 

 and the old theories.— The triumph of the transmutation 

 theory and its bearing on the various sciences. 



"T^VARWIN'S theories are at present universally 

 -L^ known. So deep and far reaching has been 

 their influence that the reading public is thoroughly 

 familiar with them. It would be superfluous, there- 

 fore, to review them here in detail and to recite the 

 evidence upon which they rest. Besides, there are 

 many books in which the reader can find an excellent 

 account of them. We will confine ourselves to point- 

 ing out those essential features which we must keep 

 in mind in order not to be confused by later theories, 

 and in order to draw a clear distinction between Dar- 

 win's direct legacy and the elements which, under the 

 name of Darwinism, have been added to it. 

 What is generally understood by Darwinism is a 



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