O PREFACE 



themselves as to the actual condition of theories of 

 life. 



Its chief aim has been to vindicate the value and 

 importance of Darwinism. The greater part of the 

 work is devoted to proving the truth of this system. 

 On the other hand, every care has been taken to 

 distinguish between facts and probabilities ; and it has 

 been clearly pointed out what general deductions may 

 or may not be drawn from Darwinism. The ease 

 with which the theory of evolution is grasped too 

 readily disposes people to regard Darwinism as the 

 one true, natural, and sound view of the world- 

 process. And in order to set forth all these questions 

 with perfect clearness, it has been necessary to touch 

 on fields of inquiry which lie beyond the range of 

 biological science. 



The manner of presentation is simple, because the 

 work is written for the general reader. No knowledge 

 of science is presupposed ; and the reader is briefly 

 informed on all the questions that have a bearing on 

 the theory of evolution. Everything that would 

 interfere with clearness and intelligibility has been 

 avoided. Hence, the founders of the various theories 

 treated are not, as a rule, named in the text ; though, 

 to ensure accuracy, their names are given in foot- 

 notes. In these notes will also be found the 

 references to the literature relating to the subject, so 



