At the Deathbed of Darwinism: A Series of Papers

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21019

Title

At the Deathbed of Darwinism: A Series of Papers

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This 1904 collection presents a compelling defense of Theistic evolution against the declining Darwinian theory of Natural Selection. Through testimonies from leading German scientists, the text argues that organic development is driven by vital forces rather than mere chance or struggle, offering a harmonious alternative to materialism.

Summary up to 500 words

In "At the Deathbed of Darwinism," Eberhard Dennert compiles a series of papers arguing that the Darwinian theory of Natural Selection is in decline among high-level scientific circles in Germany and elsewhere. The text systematically critiques core Darwinian tenets, including the "struggle for life," the accumulation of fluctuating variations, and the mechanisms of mimicry and sexual selection. Dennert highlights admissions from prominent figures like Professor Thomas Hunt Morgan, who accepts common descent but rejects the mechanical agency of natural selection as the primary driver of evolution. The book features extensive testimony from scientists such as Julius von Sachs, Professor Goethe, Dr. Schneider, and Professor Hertwig, who reject the "biogenetic law" and the idea that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny. Instead, these authors propose that organic growth is a physiological process conditioned by internal vital forces and external influences like climate, rather than random chance. The text dismantles the concept of "missing links" and the geological evidence for gradual descent, arguing that the fossil record does not support Darwin's gradual modifications. It also addresses the "Romanes Incident" and Haeckel's alleged fraud, portraying Darwinism as a "fiction" lacking empirical proof. Ultimately, the work argues that evolution is a real phenomenon but one driven by internal developmental laws and divine principles, supplanting the materialistic view with a theory in harmony with Theistic principles. Dennert contends that while the doctrine of descent remains a working hypothesis, the specific Darwinian explanation via natural selection is untenable because it relies on unproven assumptions about struggle and chance. The book asserts that adaptations arise from definite lines of development and internal organization rather than the accumulation of useful variations selected by a sanguinary struggle. By presenting these testimonies, Dennert aims to demonstrate that the scientific community is moving away from materialistic explanations toward a more comprehensive understanding of life that acknowledges internal vital forces and aligns with ethical and religious worldviews.

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Categories

• Science
• Evolution