One of the most
intellectually significant quotes I found in On the Origin of Species is Darwin’s following concession: “To
suppose that the eye… could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I
freely confess, absurd in the highest possible degree” (186). I found this
quote significant because he demeans his own theory by calling it profoundly ridiculous
in this situation which could easily fuel a counterargument against it and
because he leaves the ultimate decision of belief up to the reader. A
counterargument could be, “Darwin, you yourself label such magical abilities of
natural selection ridiculous, and a scientist uncertain in his or her own
theory is not convincing in the slightest.” However, Darwin proceeds to present
a possible explanation as to how natural selection can be such a magician. On
page 187, Darwin begins ocular evolution with an “optic nerve coated with
pigment” and leaves the rest up to natural selection via descendants with
modifications over the course of “millions on millions of years” so that “a
living optical instrument might thus be formed as superior to one of glass”
(189). Darwin offers an explanation to a problem he himself thinks nearly
surmountable, and simultaneously allows an opponent who may disagree to weigh his
conjectures accordingly. Darwin could easily have claimed his theory absolute
fact and not have worried about the complexity of sight, but he does nowhere do
so. In the abstract, he often states “If it could be demonstrated that” ___ “could
not possibly have been formed by [natural selection], my theory would
absolutely break down,” leaving his positions up to the rigorous debate of
science (189). Near the end of the novel, he states the abstract lays down the “chief
facts and considerations with have thoroughly convinced [him] that species have
changed,” not that these facts should convince everybody. By leaving the
ultimate decision whether to believe in the power of natural selection or not up
to his readers, Darwin embodies the noblest of noble scientists.
I, too, have noticed that Darwin is very careful in his approach to explain his theories, as Eric points out. He seems to sort of lay out a fact, and then back out of the argument by stating something such as, "seems, I freely confess, absurd" (186). I think he is very crafty in doing this, though. Darwin's theories we can gather were radical for the time, and outright stating that his idea is better probably would not have gone over well. I like that he uses the phrase "on (or by) my theory," (355) to make a subtle, yet persuasive argument and ultimately leave the reader with as Eric says the "decision...to believe in the power of natural selection."
ReplyDeleteThis is a great point that Eric and now Iska have pointed out about how Darwin basically leaves it up to everyone else to see how natural selection is the underlying power in nature. Darwin says "the new species come in slowly and successively: how species of different classes do not necessarily change together or at the same rate or in the same degree; yet in the long run that all undergo modification to some extent. The extinction of old forms is the almost inevitable consequence of the production of new forms. We can understand why when a species has once disappeared it never reappears" (343). As interesting as it is, Darwin explains that it is such an "absurd" process (186). Possibly declaring this statement as beyond weird can bring it back to sense that its is so perfectly logical and help make Darwin's excellent point of natural selection.
ReplyDeleteDarwin's ability to discount and then rebuild his argument really shows how strong his points are. To attribute natural selection to "magic" and as Liezel points out, admits that what he is arguing is in fact "absurd," he actually allows for a full grasp of his train of thought (186). Both Iska and Liezel touch on the fact that Darwin accepts that his theories are a bit crazy, and it is this acceptance that gives them gravity. I find that the concession of unbelievability makes Darwin's lofty claims much easier to buy.
ReplyDeleteI find it very interesting that Darwin was not as confident in his theory when he had so much proof. I think that his attribution of his theory to magic is just a way for him to avoid conflict with the church and he did not want to be accused of heresy.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that Darwin was unconfident in his theory at all. As illustrated through the numerous scientific observations exhibited in the book, it can be gathered that he had gained loads of supporting evidence to his claim. I do however feel as though he even struggled with the acceptance of this radical concept. He brings up the idea of the Creator a couple times and I took this to mean that perhaps he was trying to see how these two concepts interacted and could possibly go together.
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