Book Description

Excerpt from Evolution in Science, Philosophy, and Art: Popular Lectures and Discussions Before the Brooklyn Ethical Association The doctrine of Evolution, representing as it does Nature's uniform method whereby all progressive changes are accomplished, whether in Physics, Biology, Psychology, Sociology, or Ethics, is susceptible of an infinite variety of expository illustrations. The present volume, which is the natural successor of previous courses of lectures before the Brooklyn Ethical Association on Evolution and Sociology, exemplifies the workings of this universal law in some of the special departments of Science, Philosophy, and Art The seventeen lectures herewith presented may be naturally segregated under these several heads. To the department of Science belongs the able exposition and critique of the contributions of Alfred Russel Wallace, the co-discoverer with Charles Darwin of the law of Natural Selection, to the doctrine of Evolution, by our foremost American biologist, Prof. Edward D. Cope, together with the monographs on the evolution of Chemistry, Electric and Magnetic Physics, Botany, Zoology, and Optics, and Mr. Potts's interesting discussion of the development of Form and Color in Nature. To the department of Philosophy may properly be assigned the exposition of the life, work, and philosophical system of Prof. Ernst Haeckel, the eminent German evolutionist, in the lecture of Mr. Wake-man and the appended discussion, Dr. Abbot's exposition of The Scientific Method, Mr. Underwood's able presentation of the principles of Herbert Spencer's Synthetic Philosophy. Dr. Janes's application of the philosophy of Evolution to the Art of Life, and the noteworthy discussion of The Doctrine of Evolution, its Scope and Influence, by Prof. John Fiske, our ablest American exponent of this doctrine in its ethical and philosophical aspects. The final outcome of these lectures constitutes, it is believed, a complete refutation of the charge of materialism sometimes unjustly made against Mr. Spencer and the whole modern school of evolutionists. This is a matter of great interest and profound significance, to which we commend the thoughtful attention of the reader and reviewer. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.