The Essence of Darwinism and the Basis of Modern Orthodoxy

The Essence of Darwinism and the Basis of Modern Orthodoxy believe, sought to construct and defend a working method for the special sub-iect matter of evolutionary inquiry—that is, for the data of history. Inferences about history, so crucial to any evolutionary work, had been plagued by problems of confidence that seemed to bar any truly scientific in-quiry into the past.

Darwin knew that evolution would not win respect until methods of historical inference could be established and illustrated with all the confidence of Galileo viewing the moons of Jupiter. He therefore set out to formulate rules for inference in history. I view the Origin as one long illus-tration of these rules. Historical inference sets the more general theme under-lying both the establishment of evolution as a fact, and the defense of natural selection as its mechanism.

The "one long argument" of the Origin presents a comprehensive strategy and compendium of modes for historical inference (see fuller exposition of this view in Gould, 1986). We must grasp Darwin's practical campaign on this battlefield in order to understand his radical phi-losophy, and to identify the features of his theory that count as essential to any definition of "Darwinism." 

Reading Darwin has been a persisting and central joy in my intellectual life. Lycll and Huxley may have been greater prose stylists, with more consistency in the ring and power of their words. Yet I give the nod to Darwin, and not only for the greater depth and power of his ideas. Darwin often wrote quite ordinary prose, page after page.

But then, frequently enough to rivet the at-tention of any careful reader, his passion bursts through, and he makes a point with such insight and force (almost always by metaphor) that under-standing breaks like sunrise. Every evolutionist can cite a list of favorite Dar-winian passages, written on well-worn index cards for lectures (or, now, eter-nally embedded in Powerpoint files), posted on the office door or prominently displayed above the typewriter (now the computer terminal), or simply (and lovingly) committed to memory. Several of my favorite passages celebrate the broadened understanding of nature that derives from recognizing organisms as products of history, rather than objects created in their present state.

*I base this chapter on an exploration of the logic of argument in the first edition of the Origin of Species (1859). Provine (in lectures and personal communications) has argued that Darwinian historiography should focus on the definitive 6th edition of 1872, not only as Darwin's most considered and nuanced account, but primarily because this last edition has enjoyed such overwhelmingly greater influence through endless reprinting (continuing today) and translation into all major languages.

The first edition had a print run of copies and sold out on the first day. I doubt that this original version ever reappeared in print before the facsimile edition edited by Mayr, and this initial version remains rare relative to the ubiquitous sixth of almost every modern reprint. I agree with Provine's argument and, in fact, personally prefer the sixth edition for its subtleties on issues of macroevolution and adaptation. But I choose the first edition for this chapter as a necessary consequence of my idiosyncratic habits of historiographical work. I appreciate, and shame.