The Passing of Evolution 13 The difference between 306,662,400 years, regarded as “a mere trifle,” and 24,000,000, or even 100,000,000 years, as constituting the whole sum, is tremendous. For, it neces- sitates a rapidity in the development of species which must be regarded as by leaps and bounds, and so would well accord with the theory of creation by special Divine intervention. If a critic of Darwinism had made so egregious an error as this which Darwin introduced into the very foundation of his theory, he would have been the subject of an immense amount of ridicule. The only excuse which Darwin could make was that at the time no one knew any better. But that excuse shows the folly of building such an enormous theory upon an unknown foundation. 2. As to the Minuteness of Beneficial Variations. The unlimited geological time required by Darwin’s original theory is closely bound up with his view of the minuteness of the steps through which progress has been made. The words which he constantly uses when speaking of variations are “slight,” “small,” “extremely gradual,” “insensible grada- tions.” But early in the discussion it was shown by Mivart that “minute incipient variations in any special direction” would be valueless; since, to be of advantage in any case, they must be considerable in amount. And furthermore, in order to be of permanent advantage, a variation of one organ must be aecompahied with numerous other variations in other parts of the organism. The absurdity in supposing the acquisition of advantageous qualities by chance variations is shown in the pertinent illus- tration adduced by Herbert Spencer from the anatomy of the cat. To give the cat power of leaping to any advantageous height, there must be a simultaneous variation in all the bones, sinews, and muscles of the hinder extremities; and, at the same time, to save the cat from disaster when it descends from an elevation, there must be variation of a totally different character in all the bones and tendons and muscles of the fore
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker