THE THEORY OF ORGANIC EVOLUTION 165 



of a scientist than Maupertuis, Diderot recognized the 

 evolutionary significance of the details of anatomy that were 

 being factually set forth by the great Daubenton (1716- 

 1800). The latter appears to have been oblivious of the 

 larger interpretations. Although he was the great pioneer 

 in the field of vertebrate anatomy, it was not Daubenton, 

 the scientist, but Diderot the philosopher, who saw the 

 meaning of the facts in relation to the mutability of species. 

 A vast array of anatomical data, which are now regarded as 

 one of the strongest lines of evidence for evolution, was be- 

 coming discernible. Its meaning was appreciated by a few 

 individuals before the middle of the eighteenth century. 

 The decade following 1745 witnessed the setting forth, by 

 Diderot and Maupertuis, of two of the most important 

 lines of evidence for descent anatomy and inheritance with 

 variation, and also the publication of the first volume of 

 Button's "Histoire Naturelle" (1749). "The appearance of 

 modern evolutionism, as a theory definitely formulated and 

 based upon its proper embryological and anatomical premises, " 

 therefore, dates from the middle of the eighteenth century. 11 

 Throughout the latter half of the eighteenth century, the 

 theory of the transmutation of species was a frequent topic 



11 In the paper by Professor Lovejoy, loc. dt., the opinions of two other 

 eighteenth century writers are given at length Johann Gottfried von Herder 

 (1744-1803), and James Burnett, Lord Monboddo (1714-1799). The former 

 has been greatly overrated as an early advocate of the transmutation hypoth- 

 esis. It is by no means clear, according to Lovejoy, "that he did not intend 

 explicitly to repudiate it." Monboddo, on the other hand, although he cannot 

 be taken very seriously as a zoologist, "was perhaps the first to make widely 

 familiar to the British public the doctrine that man is descended from ape-like 

 ancestors." His associates were such men as David Hume, Adam Smith and 

 James Hutton. "In this society, so distinguished for its scientific attainments 

 and for original theories in natural science and philosophy, Monboddo had the 

 reputation of being one of the most learned and most original," although it was 

 felt by most of his British contemporaries "that he pushed originality in theo- 

 rizing to the point of fantastic absurdity when he declared that civilized man 

 is akin to the orang-outang and a descendant of progenitors that lacked speech 

 and possibly had tails." "It is a pity," said Dr. Johnson, "to see Lord Mon- 

 boddo publish such notions as he has done; a man of sense and of so much 

 elegant learning." 



