Darwiniana

Darwiniana

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Title: Darwiniana Essays and Reviews Pertaining to Darwinism
Author: Asa Gray
Release Date: March, 2004 [EBook #5273] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on June 23, 2002]
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DARWINIANA ***

Produced by Dave Gowan

DARWINIANA
ESSAYS AND REVIEWS PERTAINING TO DARWINISM
BY ASA GRAY FISHER PROFESSOR OF NATURAL HISTORY (BOTANY) IN HARVARD UNIVERSITY
NEW YORK: 1876.

CONTENTS
DARWINIANA
PREFACE
ARTICLE I
THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES BY MEANS OF NATURAL SELECTION
Views and Definitions of Species--How Darwin's differs from that of Agassiz, and from the Common View--Variation, its Causes unknown.--Darwin's Genealogical Tree--Darwin and Agassiz agree in the Capital Facts--Embryology--Physical Connection of Species compatible with Intellectual Connection--How to prove Transmutation.--Known Extent of Variation--Cause of Likeness unknown--Artificial Selection.--Reversion--Interbreeding--Natural Selection.--Classification tentative.--What Darwin assumes.--Argument stated.--How Natural Selection works.--Where the Argument is weakest.--Objections--Morphology and Teleology harmonized.--Theory not atheistical.--Conceivable Modes of Relation of God to Nature
ARTICLE II
DESIGN VERSUS NECESSITY-- A DISCUSSION
How Design in Nature can be shown--Design not inconsistent with Indirect Attainment
ARTICLE III
NATURAL SELECTION NOT INCONSISTENT WITH NATURAL THEOLOGY

PART I.--Premonitions of Darwinism.--A Proper Subject for
Speculation.--Summary of Facts and Ideas suggestive of Hypotheses of Derivation

Part II--Limitations of Theory conceded by Darwin.--What Darwinism
explains.--Geological Argument strong in the Tertiary Period.-- Correspondence between Rank and Geological Succession--Difficulties in Classification.--Nature of Affinity.--No Absolute Distinction between Vegetable and Animal Kingdoms.--Individuality.--Gradation

PART III.--Theories contrasted.--Early Arguments against
Darwinism.--Philosophical and Theological Objections--Theory may be theistic.--Final Cause not excluded.--Cause of Variation unknown.--Three Views of Efficient Cause compatible with Theism.--Agassiz's Objections of a Philosophical Nature.--Minor Objections.--Conclusion
ARTICLE IV
SPECIES AS TO VARIATION, GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION, AND SUCCESSION
Alphonse De Candolle's Study of the Oak Genus.--Variability of the Species.--Antiquity.--A Common Origin probable.--Dr. Falconer on the Common Origin of Elephants--Variation and Natural Selection distinguished.--Saporta on the Gradation between the Vegetable Forms of the Cretaceous and the Tertiary.--Hypothesis of Derivation more likely to be favored by Botanists than by Zoologists.--Views of Agassiz respecting the Origin, Dispersion, Variation, Characteristics, and Successive Creation of Species contrasted with those of De Candolle and others--Definition of Species--Whether its Essence is in the Likeness or in the Genealogical Connection of the Individuals composing a Species
ARTICLE V
SEQUOIA AND ITS HISTORY: THE RELATIONS OF NORTH AMERICAN TO NORTHEAST ASIAN AND TO TERTIARY VEGETATION
Age and Size of Sequoia.--Isolation.--Decadence.--Related Genera.-- Former Distribution.--Similarity between the Flora of Japan and that of the United States, especially on the Atlantic Side.--Former Glaciation as explaining the Present Dispersion of Species.--This confirmed by the Arctic Fossil Flora of the Tertiary Period.--Tertiary Flora derived from the Preceding Cretaceous.--Order and Adaptation in Organic Nature likened to a Flow.--Order implies an Ordainer
ARTICLE VI
THE ATTITUDE OF WORKING NATURALISTS TOWARD DARWINISM
General Tendency to Acceptance of the Derivative Hypothesis noted.--Lyell, Owen, Alphonse De Candolle, Bentham, Flower, Ailman.-- Dr. Dawson's "Story of the Earth and Man" examined.--Difference between Scientific Men and General Speculators or Amateurs in the Use of Hypotheses
ARTICLE VII
EVOLUTION AND THEOLOGY
Writings of Henslow, Hodges, and Le Conte examined.--Evolution and Design compatible.--The Admission of a System of Nature, with Fixed Laws, concedes in Principle all that the Doctrine of Evolution requires.--Hypotheses, Probabilities, and Surmises, not to be decried by Theologians, who use them, perhaps, more freely and loosely than Naturalists.--Theologians risk too much in the Defense of Untenable Outposts
ARTICLE VIII
"WHAT IS DARWINISM?"
Dr. Hodges Book with this Title criticised.--He declares that Darwinism is Atheism, yet its Founder a Theist.--Darwinism founded, however, upon Orthodox Conceptions, and opposed, not to Theism, but only to Intervention in Nature, while the Key-note of Dr. Hedge's System is Interference.--Views and Writings of St. Clair, Winchell, and Kingsley adverted to
ARTICLE IX
CHARLES DARWIN: SKETCH ACCOMPANYING A PORTRAIT IN "NATURE"
Darwin's Characteristics and Work as a Naturalist compared with those of Robert Brown.--His Illustration of the Principle that "Nature abhors Close Fertilization. "--His Impression upon Natural History exceeded only by Linnaeus.--His Service in restoring Teleology to Natural History
ARTICLE X
INSECTIVOROUS PLANTS
Classification marks Distinctions where Nature exhibits Gradations.-- Recovery of Forgotten Knowledge and History of what was known of Dionzea, Drosera, and Sarracenia.
ARTICLE XI
INSECTIVOROUS AND CLIMBING PLANTS
Review of Darwin's Two Works upon these Subjects--No Absolute Marks