Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
- CHAPTER I INTRODUCTORY
- CHAPTER II THE INCOMPETENCY OF “NATURAL SELECTION” TO ACCOUNT FOR THE INCIPIENT STAGES OF USEFUL STRUCTURES
- CHAPTER III THE CO-EXISTENCE OF CLOSELY SIMILAR STRUCTURES OF DIVERSE ORIGIN
- CHAPTER IV MINUTE AND GRADUAL MODIFICATIONS
- CHAPTER V AS TO SPECIFIC STABILITY
- CHAPTER VI SPECIES AND TIME
- CHAPTER VII SPECIES AND SPACE
- CHAPTER VIII HOMOLOGIES
- CHAPTER IX EVOLUTION AND ETHICS
- CHAPTER X PANGENESIS
- CHAPTER XI SPECIFIC GENESIS
- CHAPTER XII THEOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
- INDEX
CHAPTER VIII - HOMOLOGIES
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 August 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
- CHAPTER I INTRODUCTORY
- CHAPTER II THE INCOMPETENCY OF “NATURAL SELECTION” TO ACCOUNT FOR THE INCIPIENT STAGES OF USEFUL STRUCTURES
- CHAPTER III THE CO-EXISTENCE OF CLOSELY SIMILAR STRUCTURES OF DIVERSE ORIGIN
- CHAPTER IV MINUTE AND GRADUAL MODIFICATIONS
- CHAPTER V AS TO SPECIFIC STABILITY
- CHAPTER VI SPECIES AND TIME
- CHAPTER VII SPECIES AND SPACE
- CHAPTER VIII HOMOLOGIES
- CHAPTER IX EVOLUTION AND ETHICS
- CHAPTER X PANGENESIS
- CHAPTER XI SPECIFIC GENESIS
- CHAPTER XII THEOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
- INDEX
Summary
That concrete whole which is spoken of as “an individual” (such, e.g., as a bird or a lobster) is formed of a more or less complex aggregation of parts which are actually (from whatever cause or causes) grouped together in a harmonious interdependency, and which have a multitude of complex relations amongst themselves.
The mind detects a certain number of these relations as it contemplates the various component parts of an individual in one or other direction—as it follows up different lines of thought. These perceived relations, though subjective, as relations, have nevertheless an objective foundation as real parts, or conditions of parts, of real wholes; they are, therefore, true relations, such, e.g., as those between the right and left hand, between the hand and the foot, &c.
The component parts of each concrete whole have also a relation of resemblance to the parts of other concrete wholes, whether of the same or of different kinds, as the resemblance between the hands of two men, or that between the hand of a man and the fore-paw of a cat.
Now, it is here contended that the relationships borne one to another by various component parts, imply the existence of some innate, internal condition, conveniently spoken of as a power or tendency, which is quite as mysterious as is any innate condition, power, or tendency, resulting in the orderly evolution of successive specific manifestations.
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- On the Genesis of Species , pp. 155 - 187Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009First published in: 1871