CHAPTER V

The Mechanical Theory of Evolution: the Darwin-Weismann Explanation

Lamarck, or ‘Metaphysics’? 91

Weismann’s Escape 93

The Struggle among the Determinants 95

Chance-Variations and Co-adaptation 97

Other Difficulties of the Chance-Variation Theory 99

Natural Selection 103

Impossible before Competition Existed 104

Co-operation and Competition 104

Protective Mimicry, Inexplicable by Chance-Variations and Natural Selection 106

Innate Capacities of Life 109

Outline of Preceding Arguments 111