Essays Upon Heredity and Kindred Biological Problems

Essays Upon Heredity and Kindred Biological Problems - Authorised Translation

The attention of English biologists and men of science was first called to Professor Weismanns essays by an article entitled Death in The Nineteenth Century for May, 1885, by Mr. A. E. Shipley. Since then the interest in the authors arguments and conclusions has become very general; having been especially increased by Professor Moseleys two articles in Nature (Vol. XXXIII, p. 154, and Vol. XXXIV, p. 629), and by the discussion upon The Transmission of Acquired Characters, introduced by Professor Lankester at the meeting of the British Association at Manchester in 1887,a discussion in which Professor Weismann himself took part. The deep interest which has everywhere been expressed in a subject which concerns the very foundations of evolution, has encouraged the Editors to hope that a volume containing a collection of all Professor Weismanns essays upon heredity and kindred problems would supply a real want. At the present time, when scientific periodicals contain frequent references to these essays, and when the various issues which have been raised by them are discussed on every occasion at which biologists come together, it is above all things necessary to know exactly what the author himself has said. And there are many signs that discussion has already suffered for want of this knowledge. A translation of Essays I and II was commenced by Mr. A. E. Shipley during his residence at Freiburg in the winter of 1884. His work was greatly aided by the kind assistance of Dr. van Rees of Amsterdam, to whom we desire to express our most sincere thanks. The translation was laid aside until the summer of 1888, when Mr. Shipley was invited to co-operate with the other editors in the preparation of the present volume; the Clarendon Press having consented to publish the complete series of essays as one of their Foreign Biological Memoirs. We think it probable that this work may interest many who are not trained biologists, but who approach the subject from its philosophical or social aspects. Such readers would do well to first study Essays I, II, VII, and VIII, inasmuch as some preparation for the more technical treatment pursued in the other essays will thus be gained. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 48132
Author: Weismann, August
Release Date: Feb 1, 2015
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Editor: Poulton, Edward Bagnall, Sir, 1856-1943 , Shipley, A. E. (Arthur Everett), Sir, 1861-1927