Darwinism (1889) An exposition of the theory of natural selection, with some of its applications

"Darwinism" by Alfred Russel Wallace is a scientific publication written during the late 19th century. The book serves as an exposition of the theory of natural selection and delves into its applications in the context of evolutionary biology. A central theme is to clarify and expand upon Charles Darwin's foundational concepts of evolution, exploring how species originate and the mechanisms that drive their development and variation. The opening of "Darwinism" presents a thorough introduction to the concepts of "species" and their "origin," establishing the groundwork for the subsequent exploration of natural selection. Wallace outlines the historical context surrounding Darwin's theory, discussing the prevailing beliefs about species and their supposed "special creation." He addresses the transformation in scientific thought that has emerged since Darwin's work, emphasizing the acceptance of species evolving from one another through natural laws. The initial chapters set the stage for a detailed examination of the struggle for existence among organisms, the variability of species in nature, and how these factors contribute to the evolutionary process, leading the way into deeper discussions on natural selection in the chapters that follow. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Alfred Russel Wallace was an English naturalist, explorer, geographer, anthropologist, biologist and illustrator. He independently conceived the theory of evolution through natural selection; his 1858 paper on the subject was published that year alongside extracts from Charles Darwin's earlier writings on the topic. It spurred Darwin to set aside the "big species book" he was drafting and quickly write an abstract of it, which was published in 1859 as On the Origin of Species.