RISE OF EVOLUTIONARY THOUGHT 415 
recognize that the time was not ripe tor the acceptance of 
such truths; and, finally, that there was no great principle 
enunciated by Lamarck which could be readily understood 
as there was in Darwin's book on the doctrine of natural 
selection. 
The temporary disappearance of the doctrine of organic 
evolution which occurred after Lamarck expounded his theory 
was also owing to the reaction against the speculations of 
the school of Natur-Philosophie. The extravagant specula- 
tion of Oken and the other representatives of this school 
completely disgusted men who were engaged in research by 
observation and experiment. ‘The reaction against that 
school was so strong that it was difficult to get a hearing for 
any theoretical speculation; but Cuvier’s influence must be 
looked upon as the chief one in causing disregard for La- 
marck’s writings. 
The work of Cuvier has been already considered in con- 
nection both with comparative anatomy and zodlogy, but 
a few points must still be held under consideration. Cuvier 
brought forward the idea of catastrophism in order to explain 
the disappearance of the groups of fossil animals. He be- 
lieved in the doctrine of spontaneous generation. He held 
to the doctrine of pre-delineation, so that it must be admitted 
that whenever he forsook observation for speculation he 
was singularly unhappy, and it is undeniable that his posi- 
tion of hostility in reference to the speculation of Lamarck 
retarded the progress of science for nearly half a century. 
Cuvier and Saint-Hilaire.—In 1830 there occurred a 
memorable controversy between Cuvier and Saint-Hilaire. 
The latter (Fig. 118) was in early life closely associated with 
Lamarck, and shared his views in reference to the origin of 
animals and plants; though in certain points Saint-Hilaire 
was more a follower of Buffon than of Lamarck. Strangely 
enough, Saint-Hilaire was regarded as the stronger man of 
