![]() that natural selection is the primary driving force and that acquired characters are NOT inherited. Ironically, the term "neo-Darwinism" was originally coined by Butler in 1880 with reference to Wallace's view of evolution i.e. Lamarckism) played a role alongside natural selection, and in 1868 he even developed an elaborate theory he called Pangenesis to explain how it might work (for more information see this paper). Darwin, however, always believed that what he called "use and disuse" inheritance (i.e. He correctly insisted throughout his long life that natural selection is the primary mechanism of evolutionary change. Wallace vigorously rejected Lamarckism (the inheritance of acquired characteristics), beginning with his seminal essay of 1858. Yes, if by "Darwinian" we mean an acceptance that most evolutionary change is driven by the process of natural selection. Was Wallace really more Darwinian than Darwin himself?Ī. Thanks to the 'Darwin Industry' of recent decades Darwin's fame has been rising exponentially, overshadowing the important contributions of his contemporaries, like Wallace. However, by then the history of the discovery had largely been forgotten (there was a new generation of biologists) and when interest in the theory revived many wrongly assumed that the idea had first been published by Darwin in his book The Origin of Species. It was only with the modern evolutionary synthesis of the 1930s and 1940s that natural selection became the widely accepted mechanism of evolutionary change. My working hypothesis to explain this is as follows: In the late 19th and early 20th century natural selection as an explanation for evolutionary change became very unpopular, with most biologists adopting alternative theories such as neo-Lamarckism, orthogenesis, or the mutation theory (also see ). It was only in the 20th century that Wallace became totally eclipsed by Darwin. These include the Darwin–Wallace and Linnean Gold Medals of the Linnean Society of London the Copley, Darwin and Royal Medals of the Royal Society (Britain's premier scientific body) and the Order of Merit (awarded by the ruling Monarch as the highest civilian honor of Great Britain). ![]() In fact natural selection was often called the Darwin-Wallace theory and the highest possible honours of the land were bestowed on him by the scientific establishment for his role as its co-discoverer. ![]() This is a tricky one, because the explanation has to take into account that during Wallace's lifetime he was widely acknowledged to be the co-discoverer of the theory. Copyright Wallace Literary Estate, The Natural History Museum, Fred EdwardsĪ. Letter from the Royal Society to Wallace 1890. Why do most people think that Darwin was the sole originator of the theory of natural selection? But whether there be a God and whatever be His nature whether we have an immortal soul or not, or whatever may be our state after death, I can have no fear of having to suffer for the study of nature and the search for truth, or believe that those will be better off in a future state who have lived in the belief of doctrines inculcated from childhood, and which are to them rather a matter of blind faith than intelligent conviction." ( From an 1861 letter from Wallace to his brother-in-law Thomas Sims ). You I know will not believe that in my case, and I know its falsehood as a general rule.To the mass of mankind religion of some kind is a necessity. I will pass over as utterly contemptible the oft-repeated accusation that sceptics shut out evidence because they will not be governed by the morality of Christianity. I think I have fairly heard and fairly weighed the evidence on both sides, and I remain an utter disbeliever in almost all that you consider the most sacred truths. In my solitude I have pondered much on the incomprehensible subjects of space, eternity, life and death. I have studied man, and nature in all its aspects, and I have sought after truth. I have since heard and read much on both sides, and pondered much upon the matter in all its bearings.I have since wandered among men of many races and many religions. ![]() "In my early youth I heard, as ninety-nine-hundredths of the world do, only the evidence on one side, and became impressed with a veneration for religion which has left some traces even to this day.
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