52 WHAT tS DARWINISM? 



Darwinism excludes Teleology. 



It is however neither evolution nor natural 

 selection, which give Darwinism its peculiar 

 character and importance. It is that Darwin 

 rejects all teleology, or the doctrine of final 

 causes. He denies design in any of the organ- 

 isms in the vegetable or animal world. He 

 teaches that the eye was formed without any 

 purpose of producing an organ of vision. 



Although evidence on this point has already 

 been adduced, yet as it is often overlooked, 

 at least in this country, so that many men 

 speak favorably of Mr. Daxwin's theory, who 

 are no more Darwinians than they are Mussul- 

 mans'; and as it is this feature of his system 

 which brings it into conflict not only with 

 Christianity, but with the fundamental prin- 

 ciples of natural religion, it should be clearly 

 established. The sources of proof on this point 

 are, — 1st. Mr. Darwin's own writings. 2d. 

 The expositions of his theory given by its ad- 

 vocates. 3d. The character of the objections 

 urged by its opponents. 



The point to be proved is that it is the dis- 

 tinctive doctrine of Mr. Darwin, that species 

 owe their origin, not to the original intention 



