Name: On the Origin of Species
Author: Charles Darwin
ISBN: 9780199219223

On the Origin of Species

Charles Darwin

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Author Description

In The Origin of Species (1859) Darwin challenged many of the most deeply-held beliefs of the Western world. Arguing for a material, not divine, origin of species, he showed that new species are achieved by "natural selection." The Origin communicates the enthusiasm of original thinking in an open, descriptive style, and Darwin's emphasis on the value of diversity speaks more strongly now than ever. As well as a stimulating introduction and detailed notes, this edition offers a register of the many writers referred to by Darwin in the text.About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Menrva's Summary

THE THESIS

Charles Darwin investigates the fundamental mechanisms of biological diversity and the process by which species evolve over time through natural selection. Darwin, a naturalist whose observations during the voyage of the HMS Beagle provided the empirical foundation for his work, challenges the prevailing belief in the divine creation of life. He presents a materialist framework that explains how environmental pressures and hereditary variations lead to the emergence of new species, effectively shifting the paradigm of biological science.

THE SCOPE MAP

What You Will Find

Detailed observations on the variation of species under domestication and in nature
The formal introduction of the theory of natural selection as a mechanism for evolution
Extensive analysis of geological records and geographical distribution of organisms
Primary source arguments addressing potential objections to the theory of common descent

THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text in the history of science that remains essential for understanding modern evolutionary biology. Readers frequently note the dense, nineteenth-century prose style, which requires careful attention to follow the author's meticulous logical progression.

Page Count:
432

Publication Date:
2009-02-01

Publisher:
Oxford University Press

ISBN-10:
0199219222

ISBN-13:
9780199219223

Non-Fiction

Science

Natural History

Evolution

Biology