Unconscious Memory - Softcover

Butler, Samuel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1438517599 ISBN 13: 9781438517599

Publisher: Book Jungle, 2009

Synopsis

Butler tells (“Life and Habit,” p. 33) that he sometimes hoped “that this book would be regarded as a valuable adjunct to Darwinism.”  He was bitterly disappointed in the event, for the book, as a whole, was received by professional biologists as a gigantic joke - a joke, moreover, not in the best possible taste.  True, its central ideas, largely those of Lamarck, had been presented by Hering in 1870 (as Butler found shortly after his publication); they had been favourably received, developed by Haeckel, expounded and praised by Ray Lankester.  Coming from Butler, they met with contumely, even from such men as Romanes, who, as Butler had no difficulty in proving, were unconsciously inspired by the same ideas - “Nur mit ein bischen ander’n Wörter.” It is easy, looking back, to see why “Life and Habit” so missed its mark.

About this title

About the Author

Samuel Butler (1835-1902) is best known for his utopian satire Erewhon, his posthumous novel The Way of All Flesh, and his translations of Homer. His family background made a career in the Church inevitable, but, while serving a low-income parish in London, he began to question his faith. He lived in New Zealand for five years, and later in life spent time in Italy.

Edition details

• Publisher: Book Jungle
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1438517599
• ISBN 13: 9781438517599
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240