Beschreibung
A COLLECTION OF MATERIAL ON EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, FROM THE MAN WHO COINED THE TERM "SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST" SPENCER, Herbert The Inadequacy of "Natural Selection", reprinted from The Contemporary Review [with] Weismannism Once More reprinted from The Contemporary Review with a Postscript [and] A Secretarial Note to Mr Campbell dated 1907 [and] author's clipped signature London: Williams & Norgate, 1893-4 The Inadequacy of "Natural Selection": 8vo., original grey paper wraps, printed in black to both covers with 'From the Author' stamped in purple to the upper cover and the initials 'SP' further added in blue pencil (possibly by the author); pp. [i], 2-69, [iii]; a little torn at head and foot of spine, with quires showing through beneath; lightly spotted to the outer edges, with one or two spots extending to the prelims, otherwise a very good to near fine example. Weismannism Once More: 8vo., original grey paper wraps, printed in black to both covers with 'S' added to the upper cover in red pencil (possibly by the author); pp. [i], 2-24; a couple of small spots to the edges otherwise fine. Printed secretarial note: Single sheet (11 x 18cm folded, 22.5 x 18cm unfolded), printed to two sides with the secretary's manuscript note to the front: "With Mr Spencer's thanks to Mr. Campbell for his appreciative letter" dated Nov 23. 1907; folded once vertically; a couple of small stains to the upper portion. Clipped manuscript signature of Herbert Spencer: On card measuring 10 x 4cm. A fascinating collection of items relating to the English philosopher, biologist, sociologist and prominent classical liberal political theorist Herbert Spencer. As a polymath, Spencer contributed to many subjects, though he is perhaps best known today for his all-embracing concept of evolution, in which he expounded upon the progressive development of the physical world, biological organisms, the human mind, and human culture. Influenced from a young age by pre-Darwinian concepts of biological evolution, Spencer became acquainted with such figures as John Stuart Mill, Mary Ann Evans (George Eliot), and Thomas Henry Huxley, the latter with whom he would become a lifelong friend. Spencer first began writing about Evolutionary Biology in the 1850s, shortly before the publication of Darwin's Origin. This in itself was not unusual, as the discussion concerning Evolution was certainly rife at the time. Spencer's initial theory, however, was radically different to Darwin's, expanding outward into the universe and postulating firstly that all structures in existence developed from a simple, undifferentiated homogeneity to a complex, differentiated heterogeneity, and secondly that this law could be applied to the stars and galaxies as much as biological organisms. After reading Darwin's interpretation (which appeared two years later), Spencer coined the term 'survival of the fittest' to describe the Darwinian concept, though he only begrudgingly accepted Darwin's theories. He remained convinced that evolution had an 'end point' and later attempted to apply this theory to sociology. The enclosed two offprints represent two lines of Spencer's thought; namely a discussion of the ideas of August Weismann and his 'germ plasm' theory, as well as a thicker pamphlet on the subject of Natural Selection, in which he maintains that Darwin's theories alone are not sufficient to explain complex evolutionary adaptations. The enclosed note, sent to Mr Campbell, includes the printed apology that "Mr Herbert Spencer's state of health is such that he is able to do an extremely small amount of work. The task of bringing up to date such of his books as most need revision will probably never be achieved.". Spencer suffered from poor health for most of the latter part of his life, and passed away just a fortnight after this letter was sent. It is possible that the recipient was the rhetoricist George Campbell, with whom Spencer is known to have corresponded. An interesting collection o.
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