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Cover of Evolution, Old & New: Or, the Theories of Buffon, Dr. Erasmus Darwin and Lamarck,; as compared with that of Charles Darwin

Evolution, Old & New: Or, the Theories of Buffon, Dr. Erasmus Darwin and Lamarck,; as compared with that of Charles Darwin

Written by Samuel Butler

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Evolution (Biology)

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About this book

"Evolution, Old & New" by Samuel Butler is a scholarly exploration of evolutionary theory written in the late 19th century. The book critically examines the theories proposed by notable figures such as Buffon, Dr. Erasmus Darwin, Lamarck, and Charles Darwin, analyzing their perspectives on evolution, teleology, and the purpose behind the structures of living organisms. Butler aims to affirm the idea of design and purpose in the evolution of life, arguing against the reduction of evolution to mere chance or mechanical causes. At the start of the work, Butler presents the central question of teleology in natural history, contemplating whether the structures of animals and plants demonstrate design or purpose. He contrasts the traditional view of teleology, exemplified by William Paley's arguments, with the emergent scientific perspectives influenced by natural selection and descent with modification. Ultimately, he intends to assert that these evolutionary changes are not devoid of purposeful design, alongside an examination of historical ideas about purposiveness in biology, setting the stage for a deeper discussion that challenges contemporary evolutionary reasoning.

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in Evolution, Old & New: Or, the Theories of Buffon, Dr. Erasmus Darwin and Lamarck,; as compared with that of Charles Darwin, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 8 hours
  • advanced
  • scholarly
  • polemical
  • analytical

Samuel Butler's "Evolution, Old & New" offers a late 19th-century intellectual challenge to Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, championing the ideas of earlier evolutionists like Buffon, Erasmus Darwin, and Lamarck. Butler argues passionately against the reduction of evolutionary processes to mere chance or mechanical causation, instead asserting the presence of design and purpose, or 'teleology,' in the development of life. He meticulously compares and contrasts these historical theories, aiming to demonstrate that purposeful adaptation through inherited habit and memory better explains the complexity of organisms than natural selection alone. The book serves as a significant historical document reflecting the ongoing philosophical and scientific debates surrounding Darwinism and the nature of life itself.

“Life is a kind of memory, and the repetition of an action develops a habit, which in time becomes an instinct.”

Key themes

Teleology vs. Mechanism
This is the central philosophical conflict of the book. Butler argues vehemently against the purely mechanistic view of evolution proposed by Charles Darwin, which attributes change to random variation and natural selection. Instead, Butler champions a teleological view, asserting that there is an inherent purpose, design, or 'will' guiding the development of organisms and their structures, often linked to 'unconscious memory' or 'habit'.
The Nature of Evolutionary Change: Inherited Memory and Habit
Butler proposes an alternative mechanism for evolutionary change, rooted in the concept of 'inherited memory' or 'habit.' He suggests that organisms adapt through conscious effort or repeated actions, and these acquired characteristics, along with the 'memory' of past successful adaptations, are passed down to offspring. This Lamarckian idea stands in direct opposition to Darwin's emphasis on random variation.
Intellectual Honesty and Scientific Attribution
A significant underlying theme is Butler's critique of Charles Darwin's originality and his perceived failure to adequately credit his predecessors, particularly his own grandfather, Erasmus Darwin, and Lamarck. Butler implies a lack of intellectual honesty in how Darwin presented his 'new' theory.

Worth discussing

To what extent is Butler's critique of Charles Darwin fair or unfair, particularly regarding intellectual attribution?

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