CHAPTER XVII 
CRITIQUE OF DARWINISM 
‘ [The last chapter dealt with the central ideas of Darwin as told by 
himself. Some of the chief objections to the theory were also presentéd 
as Darwin saw them, and his own answers to these objections were 
given. These four objections are not by any means all that Darwin 
foresaw, for he presented in another chapter a discussion of “ Miscel- 
laneous Objections to the Theory of Natural Selection.” Before 
entering upon a general criticism of Darwinism, it would be advanta- 
geous to have before us a brief and pointed summary of Darwin’s 
theory—natura] selection—now known technically as Darwinism. 
The writer knows of no better short statement of the true content of 
Darwinism than the following summary by Professor Vernon L. 
Kellogg.—-Ep.] 
SUMMARY OF DARWIN’S NATURAL-SELECTION THEORY‘ 
VERNON L. KELLOGG 
Darwinism may be defined as a certain rational, causo-mechanical 
(hence, non-teleologic) explanation of the origin of new species. The 
Darwinian explanation rests on certain observed facts, and certain 
inductions from these facts. The observed facts are: (1) the increase 
by multiplication in geometrical ratio of the individuals in every 
species, whatever the kind of reproduction which may be peculiar to 
each species, whether this be simple division, sporulation, budding, 
parthenogenesis, conjugation and subsequent division, or amphimixis 
(sexual reproduction); (2) the always apparent slight (to greater) 
variation in form and function existing among all individuals even 
though of the same generation or brood; and (3) the transmission, 
with these inevitable slight variations, by the parent to its offspring 
of a form and physiology essentially like the parental. The inferred 
(also partly observed) facts are: (1) a lack of room and food for all 
these new individuals produced by geometrical multiplication and 
consequently a competition (active or passive) among those individuals 
having any ecologic relations to one another, as, for example, among 
™From V. L. Kellogg, Darwinism To-Day (copyright 1907). Used by per- 
mission of the publishers, Henry Holt & Company. 
245 
