Darwinism (1889) / An exposition of the theory of natural selection, with some of its applications

Name: Darwinism (1889) / An exposition of the theory of natural selection, with some of its applications
Author: Alfred Russel Wallace

By Alfred Russel Wallace

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About This Book

A systematic exposition of the theory of natural selection, beginning with questions of species and the struggle for existence and arguing that natural selection is the principal agent of evolutionary change. It emphasizes variation in wild populations, supplements descriptive argument with diagrams, and explains how selection acts while responding to common objections. Topics include sexual differences and coloration, mechanisms of plant cross-fertilization and seed dispersal, the limits of inheritance of acquired characters, and an account of the development of moral and intellectual faculties, with critiques of alternative explanations and revisions of earlier statements.

About the Author

Alfred Russel Wallace

Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913) was a British naturalist, explorer, and biologist, best known for independently formulating the theory of evolution through natural selection, a concept he presented alongside Charles Darwin. His extensive travels in the Amazon and the Malay Archipelago provided him with rich insights into biodiversity and biogeography, which he documented in works such as "A Narrative of Travels on the Amazon and Rio Negro." Wallace also contributed to various fields, including entomology and anthropology, and was an advocate for spiritualism later in life, as reflected in his book "A Defence of Modern Spiritualism." His legacy endures in the realms of science and literature, marking him as a pivotal figure in the history of evolutionary thought.