History of Evolutionary Principles

Abstract

There are two firm observations that can be made about the living world: first, that it comprises a rich diversity of animal, plant and microbial life, and second, that all living organisms seem to be well-fitted for the problems posed by the environments in which they live. It is conceivable that either the characters of organisms are fixed and have remained so since the origin of life, or that they are mutable and that their diversity and adaptability have unfolded progressively with time. The dynamic process is now termed evolution. However, several possible mechanisms have been proposed to account for it, ranging from divine intervention to natural selection. The latter view, initiated by Darwin, is now dominant and it will be the aim of this book to summarize the complex collection of ideas and facts that have become associated with it, particularly over the last hundred years. To do this adequately, however, it is necessary to appreciate the historical and philosophical background from which the Darwinian Revolution emerged, and so this chapter will present a short historical review and some philosophical comments.