On the Origin of Species'can we doubt ... that individuals having any advantage, however slight, over others, would have the best chance of surviving and of procreating their kind?' In the Origin of Species (1859) Darwin challenged many of the most deeply held beliefs of the Western world. His insistence on the immense length of the past and on the abundance of life-forms, present and extinct, dislodged man from his central position in creation and called into question the role of the Creator. He showed that new species are achieved by natural selection, and that absence of plan is an inherent part of the evolutionary process. Darwin's prodigious reading, experimentation, and observations on his travels fed into his great work, which draws on material from the Galapagos Islands to rural Staffordshire, from English back gardens to colonial encounters. The present edition provides a detailed and accessible discussion of his theories and adds an account of the immediate responses to the book on publication. The resistances as well as the enthusiasms of the first readers cast light on recent controversies, particularly concerning questions of design and descent. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more. |
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action adapted advantage allied America amount ancient animals appear authors become believe birds breeds called cause characters climate closely common complex considered continuous crossed Darwin descended developed difficulty distinct domestic doubt effect evidence existing extinct extremely facts favourable fertility flowers follow formations forms genera genus geological give given greater groups habits hand Hence hybrids important improved increase individuals inhabitants inherited insects instance instincts intermediate islands kinds known land laws less living look male manner means modification namely natural selection naturalists nearly never observed occur organic Origin parent perfect period plants points present principle probably produced range ranked reason remains remarked seeds seems seen separated single slight sometimes species sterility structure struggle successive supposed tend theory tion variability variation varieties vary whole widely