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On Some Fundamental Concepts of Darwinian Biology

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Evolutionary Biology

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There are two approaches to the study of the structures, functions, and interrelations of living beings—the Cartesian or reductionist and the Darwinian or compositionist. This does not mean that some biological sciences are reductionist and others compositionist, or that there are Cartesian and Darwinian phenomena. Biological phenomena do have, however, Cartesian and Darwinian aspects. Some biologists view their subject more from the reductionist and others from the compositionist side, and some are more adept at using Cartesian and others Darwinian methodologies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Rockefeller University, New York, USA

    Theodosius Dobzhansky

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  1. Theodosius Dobzhansky
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics, University of California, Davis, California, USA

    Theodosius Dobzhansky

  2. Queens College, Flushing, New York, USA

    Max K. Hecht

  3. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York, USA

    William C. Steere

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© 1968 Plenum Press, New York

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Dobzhansky, T. (1968). On Some Fundamental Concepts of Darwinian Biology. In: Dobzhansky, T., Hecht, M.K., Steere, W.C. (eds) Evolutionary Biology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-8094-8_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-8094-8_1

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