Chapter II

SCIENTIFIC JUSTIFICATION OF THE THEORY OF DESCENT.
HISTORY OF CREATION ACCORDING TO LINNÆUS.

The Theory of Descent, or Doctrine of Filiation, as the
Monistic Explanation of Organic Natural Phenomena.—Its
Comparison with Newton’s Theory of Gravitation.—Limits of
Scientific Explanation and of Human Knowledge in
general.—All Knowledge founded originally on Sensuous
Experience, _à posteriori_.—Transition of _à posteriori_
knowledge, by inheritance, into _à priori_
knowledge.—Contrast between the Supernatural Hypotheses
of the Creation according to Linnæus, Cuvier, Agassiz,
and the Natural Theories of Development according to
Lamarck, Goethe, and Darwin.—Connection of the former
with the Monistic (mechanical), of the latter with the
Dualistic Conception of the Universe.—Monism and
Materialism.—Scientific and Moral Materialism.—The
History of Creation according to Moses.—Linnæus as the
Founder of the Systematic Description of Nature and
Distinction of Species.—Linnæus’ Classification and
Binary Nomenclature.—Meaning of Linnæus’ Idea of
Species.—His History of Creation.—Linnæus’ view of the
Origin of Species 24