The Idea of Development (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

Philip M. Northcote

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1330956249 ISBN 13: 9781330956243

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

This book explores the evolution of the theory of evolution by contrasting it with the ideas of classical philosophies, in particular, the school of thought that emerged from medieval scholasticism. The author argues that the ideas of gradual development and adaptation, which form the basis of Darwin's theory, were not alien to the medieval philosophers. Using the works of leading scholastics such as St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine as a point of reference, the author traces the roots of evolutionary ideas in the medieval era. The book does not stop there, but also delves into the complexities of the evolution debate, acknowledging the gaps in our knowledge and highlighting the ongoing scientific inquiry that continues to grapple with the question of the origins of life.

About this title

Product Description

Excerpt from The Idea of Development

The theory of evolution is necessarily based on facts, and consequently, until the facts which tell against it have received a really sufficient explana tion, it must remain a mere hypothesis of greater or less probability. But as regards the principles used in constructing this theory, these are all to be found in scholasticism - that philosophy which is, and must remain, perennially true, because, although not all its conclusions either are, or pretend to be, the last possible word on the subjects brought under con sideration, yet its principles are for the most part immutably fixed in the nature of things, and there fore render it in any essential the philosophy of all time. As Newman expresses it in his Idea of a University (discourse V.)

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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.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1330956249
• ISBN 13: 9781330956243
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 137