Evolution Charles Lyell

charles darwin

in first edition of principles, first volume briefly set out lyell s concept of steady state no real progression of fossils, in humanity had appeared recently, unique intellectual , moral qualities no great physical distinction animals. second volume dismissed lamarck s claims of animal forms arising habits, continuous spontaneous generation of new life, , man having evolved lower forms. lyell explicitly rejected lamark s concept of transmutation of species, drawing on cuvier s arguments, , concluded species had been created stable attributes. discussed geographical distribution of plants , animals, , proposed every species of plant or animal descended pair or individual, originated in response differing external conditions. species regularly go extinct, in struggle existence between hybrids, or war 1 due population pressure. vague how replacement species formed, portraying infrequent occurrence observed.

the leading naturalist sir john herschel wrote cape town on 20 february 1836, thanking lyell sending copy of principles , praising book opening way bold speculation on mystery of mysteries, replacement of extinct species others – analogy other intermediate causes, origination of fresh species, ever come under our cognizance, found natural in contradistinction miraculous process . lyell replied: in regard origination of new species, glad find think probable may carried on through intervention of intermediate causes. left rather inferred, not thinking worth while offend class of persons embodying in words speculation. whewell subsequently questioned topic, , in march 1937 lyell told him:

if had stated... possibility of introduction or origination of fresh species being natural, in contradistinction miraculous process, should have raised host of prejudices against me, unfortunately opposed @ every step philosopher attempts address public on these mysterious subjects .

as result of letters and, no doubt, personal conversations, huxley , haeckel convinced that, @ time wrote principles, believed new species had arisen natural methods. sedgwick wrote worried letters him this.

by time darwin returned beagle survey expedition in 1836, had begun doubt lyell s ideas permanence of species. continued close personal friend, , lyell 1 of first scientists support on origin of species, though did not subscribe contents. lyell friend of darwin s closest colleagues, hooker , huxley, unlike them struggled square religious beliefs evolution. inner struggle has been commented on. had particular difficulty in believing in natural selection main motive force in evolution.

alfred russel wallace in 1862.

lyell , hooker instrumental in arranging peaceful co-publication of theory of natural selection darwin , alfred russel wallace in 1858: each had arrived @ theory independently. lyell s data on stratigraphy important because darwin thought populations of organism changed slowly, requiring geological time .

although lyell did not publicly accept evolution (descent modification) @ time of writing principles, after darwin–wallace papers , origin lyell wrote in notebook:

3 may 1860: mr. darwin has written work constitute era in geology & natural history show that... descendants of common parents may become in course of ages unlike each other entitled rank distinct species, each other or of progenitors .

lyell s acceptance of natural selection, darwin s proposed mechanism evolution, equivocal, , came in tenth edition of principles. antiquity of man (published in february 1863, before huxley s man s place in nature) drew these comments darwin huxley:

fearfully disappointed @ lyell s excessive caution , book mere digest .

quite strong remarks: no doubt darwin resented lyell s repeated suggestion owed lot lamarck, whom (darwin) had rejected. darwin s daughter henrietta (etty) wrote father: fair lyell calls theory modification of lamarck s?

in other respects antiquity success. sold well, , shattered tacit agreement mankind should sole preserve of theologians , historians . when lyell wrote remained profound mystery how huge gulf between man , beast bridged, darwin wrote oh! in margin of copy.