The Autobiography of Charles Darwin - Softcover

Darwin, Charles

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1500529850 ISBN 13: 9781500529857

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2014

Synopsis

The Autobiography of Charles Darwin is a classic science autobiography by Charles Darwin. Charles Robert Darwin (12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist and geologist best known for his contributions to evolutionary theory.He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestors, and in a joint publication with Alfred Russel Wallace introduced his scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection, in which the struggle for existence has a similar effect to the artificial selection involved in selective breeding.

About this title

From the Publisher

Those who read this reissue of Charles Darwin's AUTOBIOGRAPHY (1876), first published in 1887, will surely benefit from this great naturalist's own recollections of the development of his scientific theory of organic evolution. Furthermore, the included letters, edited by his son Francis Darwin, offer salient insights into the personal life and scientific research of this famous Victorian geobiologist. Within these pages, one reads about Darwin's fortuitous global voyage on the HMS Beagle and subsequent productive life at Down House (despite chronic illness). Five chapters focus on the preparation, publication, and critical reviews of ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES (1859), the naturalist's major contribution to evolutionary thought.

Unfortunately, his wife, Emma Wedgwood Darwin, had deleted the references to God and Christianity from the posthumously published AUTOBIOGRAPHY. Not until 1958 did an unexpurgated version of this work appear in print!

Fortunately, Chapter 3 does include some of Darwin's final ideas on religion and theology. It is clear that this evolutionist was always an agnostic reticent to express or publish his thoughts on religion and theology. Even so, his personal beliefs neither verify nor falsify the evolved claims of religionists and theologians. It suffices that Darwin's theory of evolution is atheistic, both in principle and intent.

About the Author

Charles Darwin, a revolutionary British geologist and naturalist, laid the foundation for both the modern theory of evolution and the principle of common descent by the mechanism of natural selection.

About this edition

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1500529850
• ISBN 13: 9781500529857
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 58