Darwin, and After Darwin, Volume 3 of 3: Post-Darwinian Questions: Isolation and Physiological SelectionRomanes, George John
Science
Darwin, and After Darwin, Volume 3 of 3: Post-Darwinian Questions: Isolation and Physiological Selection
Romanes, George John
Evolution (Biology); Heredity
Having arrived at these results with regard to the theory of Isolation
in general and of Physiological Isolation in particular, I arrive also
at the end of this work. And if, while dealing with the post-Darwinian
period, I have imparted to any general reader the impression that there
is still a great diversity of expert opinion; I must ask him to note
that points with reference to which disagreement still exists are but
very subordinate to those with regard to which complete agreement now
prevails. The noise of wrangling disputations which has so filled the
camp of evolutionists since the death of their captain, is apt to hide
from the outside world the solid unanimity that prevails with regard to
all the larger and more fundamental questions, which were similarly the
subjects of warfare in the past generation. Indeed, if we take a fair
and general view of the whole history of Darwinism, what must strike us
as the really significant fact is the astonishing unanimity which has
been so rapidly attained with regard to matters of such immeasurable
importance. It is now but little more than thirty years since the
publication of the _Origin of Species_; and in that period not only have
all naturalists unequivocally embraced the doctrine of descent
considered as a fact; but, in one degree or another, they have all as
unequivocally embraced the theory of natural selection considered as a
method. The only points with regard to which any difference of opinion
still exist, have reference to the precise causation of that mighty
stream of events which, under the name of organic evolution, we have now
all learnt to accept as scientifically demonstrated. But it belongs to
the very nature of scientific demonstration that, where matters of great
intricacy as well as of high generality are concerned, the process of
demonstration must be gradual, even if it be not always slow. It is only
by the labours of many minds working in many directions that, in such
cases, truth admits of being eventually displayed. Line upon line,
precept upon precept, here a little and there a little--such is the
course of a scientific revelation; and the larger the subject-matter,
the more subtle and the more complex the causes, the greater must be the
room for individual differences in our reading of the book of Nature.
Now, if all this be true, must we not feel that in the matter of organic
evolution the measure of agreement which has been attained is out of all
proportion to the differences which still remain--differences which,
although of importance in themselves, are insignificant when compared
with those which once divided the opinions of not a few still living
men? And if we are bound to feel this, are we not bound further to feel
that the very intensity of our disputations over these residual matters
of comparative detail, is really the best earnest that can be given of
the determination of our quest--determination which, like that of our
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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