Two scientists can hardly be named who have, in the second half of the
19th century, dominated the human mind to a greater degree than Darwin
and Marx. Their teachings revolutionized the conception that the great
masses had about the world. For decades their names have been on the
tongues of everybody, and their teachings have become the central point
of the mental struggles which accompany the social struggles of today.
The cause of this lies primarily in the highly scientific contents of
their teachings.
The scientific importance of Marxism as well as of Darwinism consists
in their following out the theory of evolution, the one upon the domain
of the organic world, of things animate; the other, upon the domain
of society. This theory of evolution, however, was in no way new, it
had its advocates before Darwin and Marx; the philosopher, Hegel, made
it even as the central point of his philosophy. It is, therefore,
necessary to observe closely what were the achievements of Darwin and
Marx in this domain.
The theory that plants and animals have developed one from another
is met with first in the nineteenth century. Formerly the question,
“Whence come all these thousands and hundreds of thousands of different
kinds of plants and animals that we know?” was answered. “At the time
of creation God created them all, each after its kind.” This primitive
theory was in conformity with the experiences had and with the oldest
information that could be got. According to the information, all known
plants and animals have always been the same. Scientifically, this
experience was thus expressed, “All kinds are invariable because the
parents transmit their characteristics to their children.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account