Neo-Darwinism And Neo-Lamarckism (1891)

Neo-Darwinism and Neo-Lamarckism is a book written by Lester Frank Ward in 1891. The book delves into the two opposing theories of evolution - Darwinism and Lamarckism - and attempts to reconcile the two. Darwinism, as proposed by Charles Darwin, suggests that evolution occurs through natural selection, where individuals with advantageous traits survive and reproduce, passing on those traits to their offspring. Lamarckism, on the other hand, proposes that evolution occurs through the inheritance of acquired traits, where organisms can pass on traits that they have acquired during their lifetime to their offspring. Ward argues that while Darwinism is a valid theory, it fails to account for certain aspects of evolution, such as the sudden appearance of new traits. He proposes that Lamarckism may have some merit, as organisms can adapt to their environment and pass on those adaptations to their offspring. The book also discusses the role of intelligence in evolution, with Ward suggesting that intelligence is a key factor in the development of higher organisms. He proposes that the evolution of intelligence is closely linked to social organization, and that social animals are more likely to develop higher levels of intelligence. Overall, Neo-Darwinism and Neo-Lamarckism is a thought-provoking book that explores the complex theories of evolution and attempts to reconcile them. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of evolutionary theory.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.