...rejection of such. Darwin opened his introductory chapter by announcing his detectivelike determination "to throw some light on the origin of species —...been called by one of our greatest philosophers." He was alluding to John Herschel's expression of wonder in a letter to Charles Lyell, "That mystery...

...geological relations of the present to the past inhabitants of that continent. These facts seemed to me to throw some light on the origin of species — that...mystery of mysteries, as it has been called by one ot our greatest philosophers.1 On my return home, it occurred to me, in 1837, that something might...

...Humboldt in the introduction to the Origin of Species, where the question of origins is described as 'that mystery of mysteries, as it has been called by one of our greatest philosophers' (65). The editors of Darwin's early notebooks have indicated, however, on the strength of Darwin's...

...inhabitants of that continent. These facts, as will be seen in the latter chapters of this volume, seemed to throw some light on the origin of species...mysteries, as it has been called by one of our greatest philosophera. On my return home, it occurred to me, in 1837, that something might perhaps be made out...

...inhabitants of South America, and in the geological relations of the present to the past inhabitants" might "throw some light on the origin of species — that mystery of mysteries." He scoffed that "what the 'certain facts' were, and what may be the nature of the light which they...

...his main conclusions after a long journey of thirty years, which began when he embarked on HMS Beagle "to throw some light on the origin of species— that mystery of mysteries."6 In the very dynamic of his argument in favor of modification through variation and natural...

...Of his observations in South America, Darwin writes that he was much struck with certain facts which "seemed to throw some light on the origin of species—...been called by one of our greatest philosophers." He still does not identify the great philosopher by name. On the origin of Darwin's Origin, we know...

...151 When on board HMS 'Beagle,' as naturalist, I was struck with certain facts, which seemed to throw light on the origin of species, that mystery of mysteries,...one of our greatest philosophers. On my return home in 1837,1 began patiently accumulating and reflecting on all sorts of facts which could have any bearing...

...besides. Conclusion In his magisterial The Origin of Species, Darwin began by explaining that his aim was "to throw some light on the origin of species - that...mysteries, as it has been called by one of our greatest philosophers."33 His brilliant efforts have not only illuminated that particular puzzle but have also...

...geological relations of the present to the past inhabitants of that continent. These facts seemed to me to throw some light on the origin of species — that...has been called by one of our greatest philosophers. With these words the introduction to the famous work by Charles Darwin on the origin of species begins...