Facts And Arguments For Darwin Annotated

Author : Charles Darwin
Publisher : Independently Published
ISBN 13 : 9781973496052
Total Pages : 280 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (96 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Download or read book On the Origin of Species (Annotated) written by Charles Darwin and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2017-12-08 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is an annotated version of the book1.contains an updated biography of the author at the end of the book for a better understanding of the text.2.This book has been checked and corrected for spelling errorsWhen on board H.M.S. 'Beagle,' as naturalist, I was much struck withcertain facts in the distribution of the inhabitants of South America,and in the geological relations of the present to the past inhabitantsof that continent. These facts seemed to me to throw some light on theorigin of species--that mystery of mysteries, as it has been called byone of our greatest philosophers. On my return home, it occurred to me,in 1837, that something might perhaps be made out on this question bypatiently accumulating and reflecting on all sorts of facts which couldpossibly have any bearing on it. After five years' work I allowed myselfto speculate on the subject, and drew up some short notes; these Ienlarged in 1844 into a sketch of the conclusions, which then seemed tome probable: from that period to the present day I have steadily pursuedthe same object. I hope that I may be excused for entering on thesepersonal details, as I give them to show that I have not been hasty incoming to a decision.My work is now nearly finished; but as it will take me two or three moreyears to complete it, and as my health is far from strong, I have beenurged to publish this Abstract. I have more especially been induced todo this, as Mr. Wallace, who is now studying the natural history ofthe Malay archipelago, has arrived at almost exactly the same generalconclusions that I have on the origin of species. Last year he sent tome a memoir on this subject, with a request that I would forward itto Sir Charles Lyell, who sent it to the Linnean Society, and it ispublished in the third volume of the Journal of that Society. Sir C.Lyell and Dr. Hooker, who both knew of my work--the latter having readmy sketch of 1844--honoured me by thinking it advisable to publish, withMr. Wallace's excellent memoir, some brief extracts from my manuscripts.This Abstract, which I now publish, must necessarily be imperfect. Icannot here give references and authorities for my several statements;and I must trust to the reader reposing some confidence in my accuracy.No doubt errors will have crept in, though I hope I have always beencautious in trusting to good authorities alone. I can here give onlythe general conclusions at which I have arrived, with a few facts inillustration, but which, I hope, in most cases will suffice. No one canfeel more sensible than I do of the necessity of hereafter publishing indetail all the facts, with references, on which my conclusions have beengrounded; and I hope in a future work to do this. For I am well awarethat scarcely a single point is discussed in this volume on which factscannot be adduced, often apparently leading to conclusions directlyopposite to those at which I have arrived. A fair result can be obtainedonly by fully stating and balancing the facts and arguments on bothsides of each question; and this cannot possibly be here done.I much regret that want of space prevents my having the satisfaction ofacknowledging the generous assistance which I have received from verymany naturalists, some of them personally unknown to me. I cannot,however, let this opportunity pass without expressing my deepobligations to Dr. Hooker, who for the last fifteen years has aided mein every possible way by his large stores of knowledge and his excellentjudgment.