On the Reception of the 'origin of Species
1859
On the Reception of the 'origin of Species
1859
On the Reception of the 'Origin of Species' is a scientific work by Thomas Henry Huxley, first published in 1859. In this text, Huxley analyzes the public and scientific response to Charles Darwin's groundbreaking theory of evolution as presented in 'The Origin of Species.' He discusses the initial backlash, including ridicule and theological objections, and contrasts it with the eventual acceptance of Darwin's ideas, highlighting their transformative impact on biology and philosophy. Huxley's discourse emphasizes the importance of evidence-based scientific understanding over traditional beliefs.
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“The publication of the and papers in 1858, and still more that of the 'Origin' in 1859, had the effect upon them of the flash of light, which to a man who has lost himself in a dark night, suddenly reveals a road which, whether it takes him straight home or not, certainly goes his way. That which we were looking for, and could not find, was a hypothesis respecting the origin of known organic forms, which assumed the operation of no causes but such as could be proved to be actually at work. We wanted, not to pin our faith to that or any other speculation, but to get hold of clear and definite conceptions which could be brought face to face with facts and have their validity tested. The 'Origin' provided us with the working hypothesis we sought.””
— Thomas Henry Huxley
