Darwin's Phrases

Words matter. Even in science. When Darwin came up with his theory of evolution, he used the phrase, “natural selection” to describe what was going on. Unfortunately, that phrase led to misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the theory, as his colleague Wallace pointed out.

 

In a letter to Darwin, Wallace wrote that “the term itself (“natural selection”), and your mode of illustrating it, however clear and beautiful to many of us”, was leading to misinterpretation among others. The problem was the word “selection”: some thought it meant there was “thought and direction” involved. Others, esp. those of the religious type, were happy with that prospect: there was a role for God in the theory!

 

Wallace, therefore, suggested that it might be better to switch to a different phrase from that point onwards, including future editions of The Origin of Species. And what could that new term be? Wallace suggested going with the phrase that the philosopher, Herbert Spencer’s phrase had coined for Darwin’s theory: “survival of the fittest”. After all, wrote Wallace:

“Even personifying Nature, she does not so much select variations as exterminate the most unfavourable ones.”

 

Darwin could see the problem with the original phrase, so he agreed to switch to the new one. In fact, Darwin could see the poetic angle to the switch in phrases. He wrote back to Wallace saying:

“Whether it (the new phrase) will be rejected must now depend on the “survival of the fittest”.

 

Richard Dawkins nails it perfectly with his comment on the entire episode described above:

“Darwin clearly understood the ‘meme’ principle.”

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