The Factors of Organic Evolution.

Abstract

The direct action of the surrounding medium was the primordial factor of organic evolution. But while he thus clearly saw, and distinctly asserted, that the factors of organic evolution are the concrete actions, inner and outer, to which every organism is subject, Mr. Darwin, by habitually using the convenient figure of speech, was prevented from recognizing so fully as he would otherwise have done, certain fundamental consequences of these actions. Living things in common with dead things, are being thus perpetually acted upon and modified; and the changes hence resulting, constitute an all-important part of those undergone in the course of organic evolution. For it is an established truth of organic evolution that embryos show us, in general ways, the forms of remote ancestors; and that the first changes undergone, indicate, more or less clearly, the first changes which took place in the series of forms through which the existing form has been reached.

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