The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection / Or, the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, 6th Edition

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

2009

Title

The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection / Or, the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, 6th Edition

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Charles Darwin presents his groundbreaking theory of evolution by natural selection, arguing that species evolve through gradual modification driven by the struggle for existence. This definitive sixth edition offers a comprehensive exploration of biological diversity, challenging the notion of immutable species and proposing a unified law governing the natural world.

Summary up to 500 words

In his seminal work, *The Origin of Species*, Charles Darwin systematically dismantles the prevailing belief that species are fixed, immutable creations. He begins by tracing the historical progress of opinion, noting that while most naturalists previously held species to be separately created, a few, including Lamarck and himself, believed in modification. Darwin introduces the principle of natural selection, derived from the observation that individuals vary, struggle for existence due to limited resources, and those with advantageous traits survive and reproduce. He supports this with extensive evidence from artificial selection in domesticated breeds, the geographical distribution of species, embryology, and the geological record. Darwin addresses the imperfection of the geological record, explaining that gaps exist due to erosion and incomplete deposition rather than a lack of transitional forms. He details how slight variations accumulate over vast periods, leading to the divergence of species. The text covers diverse examples, from the beaks of Galapagos finches to the protective coloration of insects, illustrating how adaptation occurs. Darwin acknowledges the difficulty in distinguishing varieties from species but argues that the evidence of change is overwhelming. He concludes that the same natural law operates in the organic world as in the inorganic, rendering the world intelligible through general laws rather than isolated divine interventions. This work fundamentally reshaped biology and our understanding of life's history.

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4.2/5

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Categories

• Science
• Biology