Darwin's "The Origin of Species"
I'm so glad I decided to start reading Darwin's "The Origin of Species" over Xmas. I'm only half through and it took me this long to get through it. I feel sorry for the rest of the people in my Archaeology class (evolutionary anthropology) because we have to read all of this book before next Wed. Yep, all 500+ pages of it!!
Yes, 500 might not be THAT much, but the language of the 19th century is a whole other challenge.
Excerpt from Chapter 3 "Struggle for Existence"
A struggle for existence inevitably follows from the high rate at which all organic beings tend to increase. Every being, which during its natural lifetime produces several eggs or seeds, must suffer destruction during some period of its life, and during some season or occasional year, otherwise, on the principle of geometrical increase, its numbers would quickly become so inordinately great that no country could support the product. Hence, as more individuals are produced than can possibly survive, there must in every case be a struggle for existence, either one individual with another of the same species, or with the individuals of distinct species, or with the physical conditions of life. It is the doctrine of Malthus applied with manifold force to the whole animal and vegetable kingdoms; for in this case there can be no artificial increase of food, and no prudential restraint from marriage. Although some species may be now increasing, more or less rapidly, in numbers, all cannot do so, for the world would not hold them.
Darwin, 1859
Yes, 500 might not be THAT much, but the language of the 19th century is a whole other challenge.
Excerpt from Chapter 3 "Struggle for Existence"
A struggle for existence inevitably follows from the high rate at which all organic beings tend to increase. Every being, which during its natural lifetime produces several eggs or seeds, must suffer destruction during some period of its life, and during some season or occasional year, otherwise, on the principle of geometrical increase, its numbers would quickly become so inordinately great that no country could support the product. Hence, as more individuals are produced than can possibly survive, there must in every case be a struggle for existence, either one individual with another of the same species, or with the individuals of distinct species, or with the physical conditions of life. It is the doctrine of Malthus applied with manifold force to the whole animal and vegetable kingdoms; for in this case there can be no artificial increase of food, and no prudential restraint from marriage. Although some species may be now increasing, more or less rapidly, in numbers, all cannot do so, for the world would not hold them.
Darwin, 1859
posted by Avatamsaka Monastery Choir at 9:35 PM
2 Comments:
Why, in fact the modernism of the quoted text appeals to my particular choice of language. Indeed, the selected text helps to properly discern what exactly such a proficient speaker such as Darwin himself is striving to enunciate!
Well, I did pick one of the better passages. It's not THAT bad... but I definitely prefer the writing style of more contemporary authors like John Steinbeck and Salman Rushdie. You can see how Darwin would be a problem based on my preferences!
OK, I'll let you read some Darwin on the weekend and then we'll see who's right! :)
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