ORGANIC EVOLUTION 349 



over the evolution-theory, and that it was beginning to sur- 

 render it. Such statements are misleading and tend to per- 

 petuate the confusion regarding the present status of the 

 evolution theory. Never before was the doctrine of organic 

 evolution so thoroughly entrenched in the mind of the 

 scientific world. 



The theory of organic evolution relates to the history of 

 animal and plant life, while Darwin's theory of natural sell 

 tion is only one of the various attempts to point out the 

 causes for that history's being what it is. An at tack upon 

 Darwinism is not, in itself, an attack upon the general the- 

 ory, but upon the adequacy of his explanation of the way 

 in which nature has brought about the diversity of animal 

 and plant life. Natural selection is the particular factor 

 which Darwin has emphasized, and the discussion of the 

 part played by other factors tends only to extend the knowl- 

 edge of the evolutionary process, without detracting from it 

 as a general theory. 



While the controversies among scientific men relate for 

 the most part to the influences that have been operative in 

 bringing about organic evolution, nevertheless there are a few 

 in the scientific camp who repudiate the doctrine. Fleisch- 

 mann, of Erlangen, is perhaps the most conspicuous of those 

 who are directing criticism against the general doctrine, 

 maintaining that it is untenable. Working biologists will be 

 the first to admit that it is not demonstrated by indubitable 

 evidence, but the weight of evidence is so compelling that 

 scientific men as a body regard the doctrine of organir evolu- 

 tion as merely expressing a fact of nature, and we can not 

 in truth speak of any considerable opposition to it. Since 

 Fleischmann speaks as an anatomist, his suppression of 

 anatomical facts with which he is acquainted and his form of 

 special pleading have impressed the biological world as lack- 

 ing in sincerity. 



