On the Origin of Species
Subtitle or, The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.
Published 1859
Word count
154,892
Excerpt
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the Struggle for Existence amongst all organic beings throughout the
world, which inevitably follows from their high geometrical powers of
increase, will be treated of. This is the doctrine of Malthus, applied
to the whole animal and vegetable kingdoms. As many more individuals
of each species are born than can possibly survive; and as,
consequently, there is a frequently recurring struggle for existence,
it follows that any being, if it vary however slightly in any manner
profitable to itself, under the complex and sometimes varying
conditions of life, will have a better chance of surviving, and thus
be NATURALLY SELECTED. From the strong principle of inheritance, any
selected variety will tend to propagate its new and modified form.
This fundamental subject of Natural Selection will be treated at some
length in the fourth chapter; and we shall then see how Natural
Selection almost inevitably causes much Extinction of the less
improved forms of life and induces what I have called Divergence of
Character
On the Origin of Species is probably the only original and major work of science that can be read without special learning in math and other fields. It is a quite interesting book, much in the style and manner of Smith's Wealth Of Nations. One need know no deep theories to recognize the value of that book.
I suspect that people are pushed away from the book for religious reasons in some cases, but more because they think it dull and difficult. It is neither.
A recent movie (2008) attacks Darwin with some ill words about his character and this or that social view. One may like, hate or be indifferent to Darwin, but the validity of his ideas stand by themselves.
I hope that younger people who may read this review will give a bit of thought of just why do males have colorful feathers (in birds) and other displayts in other kinds of animals. Also, why do males only get sex-linked diseases. Both promote Darwinism, neither is obvious.
Darwin presents a theory of evolution that is, except concerning the inheritance of traits acquired by education in which he still believes, almost identical to the theories now accepted by scientists. He carefully argues this theory of evolution of species by natural selection by presenting the accumulated scientific evidence of his voyage on the HMS Beagle in the 1830s. His theories were opposed to the then-accepted viewpoint of creationism. It is arguably one of the pivotal works in scientific history. Moreover, it was (and still is) eminently readable, even by the non-specialist.
