The Foundations of the Origin of Species : Two Essays written in 1842 and 1844

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882

Contributor:

Darwin, Francis, Sir, 1848-1925

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"The Foundations of the Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin is a scientific publication written in the early to mid-19th century. This work comprises two essays penned in 1842 and 1844, which lay the groundwork for the theory of evolution through natural selection. It explores the mechanisms of variation in species, the principles guiding selection processes in both domesticated and wild organisms, and the evidence for the descent of species from common ancestors. The opening of "The Foundations of the Origin of Species" introduces readers to Darwin's exploratory thoughts on evolution, beginning with the influences that shaped his perspective on species mutability. The text reflects on Darwin's early notions of evolution, supported by various observations and scientific debates. It discusses the significance of natural selection, variation, and the gradual changes in species over time, contrasting them with man's selective breeding practices. Overall, the beginning sections set up a comprehensive framework that supports Darwin's argument for evolutionary theory, anticipating the more detailed arguments and conclusions to follow throughout the essays. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Geetu Melwani, David Clarke, LN Yaddanapudi and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)

Notes:

Reading ease score: 52.4 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.

Release date is 2007-09-22