2 LAMARCK, HIS LIFE AND WORK 



and boldness in speculation, and soundness in reason- 

 ing and in dealing with such biological facts as were 

 known in his time, which have caused his views as to 

 the method of organic evolution to again come to the 

 front. 



As a zoological philosopher no one of his time 

 approached Lamarck. The period, however, in 

 which he lived was not ripe for the heartv and gen- 

 eral adoption of the theory of descent. (As in the 

 organic world we behold here and there ' prophetic 

 types, anticipating, ih 'their generalized synthetic 

 nature, the incoming, ages after, of more specialized 

 types, sto/Lamarck anticipated by more than half a 

 century the principles underlying the present evolu- 

 tionary theories. 



So numerous are now the adherents, in some form, 

 of Lamarck's views, that at the present time evolu- 

 tionists are divided into Darwinians and Lamarckians 

 or Neolamarckians. The factors of organic evolution 

 as stated by Lamarck, it is now claimed by many, 

 really comprise the primary or foundation principles 

 or initiative causes of the origin of life-forms. Hence 

 not only do many of the leading biologists of his 

 native countiy, but some of those of Germany, of 

 the United States, and of England, justly regard him 

 as the founder of the theory of organic evolution. 



Besides this, Lamarck lived in a"-transition period. 

 He prepared the way for the scientific renascence in 

 France. Moreover, his simple, unselfish character was 

 a rare one. He led a retired life. His youth was 

 tinged with romance, and during the last decade of 

 his life he was blind. He manfully and patiently 



