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There goes a big one

Louis Agassiz, even I thought he opposed evolution
However he wrote and essay at the end of his life, which was published post-humously, which higlights two things
One he may have a rather mixed view
Evolution had a rather mixed series of concepts in 19th century, so quoting him as opposed to it "evolution" might mean a different thing today.
I think he was opposed to transmutation of species, not surprising being a taxonomist, and also a catastrophist
However I found this surprising quote in his essay in the Atlantic review monthly 1874
Agassiz’s last thoughts on transmutation and Darwinism were presented in a posthumously published essay in Atlantic Monthly. Written as the introduction to a projected series of essays, the paleontologist reiterated many of his previous arguments.pg 92 It may appear somewhat surprising that Agassiz declares it ‘unquestionable’ that evolution occurs in nature pg 92. This in no way contradicts his anti-transmutationary stance, as one must remember the original meaning of the word ‘evolution’ was a preordained unfolding of a plan. Thus, embryos evolve into their adult forms, preserving the essence of the type. Whenever Agassiz used the term ‘evolution’ it was in this sense, and this embryological perspective offered him another way to criticize Darwin, who ‘would have us believe that it required millions of years to effect any one of these changes; when far more extraordinary transformations are daily going on, under our eyes, in the shortest periods of time, during the growth of animals.


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  • There goes a big one - awsmone 04/28/0607:06:27 04/28/06 (0)


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