Lamarck, the Founder of Evolution: His Life and WorkPackard, A. S. (Alpheus Spring)
History
Lamarck, the Founder of Evolution: His Life and Work
Packard, A. S. (Alpheus Spring)
Evolution (Biology); Lamarck, Jean Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet de, 1744-1829; Naturalists -- France -- Biography
1. To moral force which characterizes the laborious man, so that the
length and difficulties of a useful work do not repel him.
2. To the courage of him who, knowing the danger, exposes himself when
he sees that this would be useful.
3. To love of wisdom.
Wisdom, according to Lamarck, consists in the observance of a certain
number of rules or virtues. These we cite in a slightly abridged form.
Love of truth in all things; the need of improving one's mind;
moderation in desires; decorum in all actions; a wise reserve in
unessential wants; indulgence, toleration, humanity, good will towards
all men; love of the public good and of all that is necessary to our
fellows; contempt for weakness; a kind of severity towards one's self
which preserves us from that multitude of artificial wants enslaving
those who give up to them; resignation and, if possible, moral
impassibility in suffering reverses, injustices, oppression, and losses;
respect for order, for public institutions, civil authorities, laws,
morality, and religion.
The practice of these maxims and virtues, says Lamarck, characterizes
true philosophy.
And it may be added that no one practised these virtues more than
Lamarck. Like Cuvier's, his life was blameless, and though he lived a
most retired life, and was not called upon to fill any public station
other than his chair of zoölogy at the Jardin des Plantes, we may feel
sure that he had the qualities of courage, independence, and patriotism
which would have rendered such a career most useful to his country.
As Bourguin eloquently asserts: "Lamarck was the brave man who never
deserted a dangerous post, the laborious man who never hesitated to meet
any difficulty, the investigating spirit, firm in his convictions,
tolerant of the opinions of others, the simple man, moderate in all
things, the enemy of weakness, devoted to the public good, imperturbable
under the attaints of fortune, of suffering, and of unjust and
passionate attacks."
FOOTNOTES:
[198] Mathias Duval: "Le transformiste français Lamarck," _Bulletin de
la Société d'Anthropologie de Paris_, xii., 1889, p. 345.
[199] _Philosophie zoologique_, p. 56.
[200] _Loc. cit._, i., p. 113.
[201] _Loc. cit._, i., p. 361.
[202] _Loc. cit._, ii., p. 465.
[203] _Système analytique des Connaissances de l'Homme_, etc.
CHAPTER XX
THE RELATIONS BETWEEN LAMARCKISM AND DARWINISM; NEOLAMARCKISM
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