john hawks weblog

paleoanthropology, genetics and evolution

Quote: "Great is the power of misrepresentation"

Fri, 2008-12-26 08:30 -- John Hawks

Darwin, in the sixth edition of the Origin of Species, p. 421:

[A]s my conclusions have lately been much misrepresented, and it has been stated that I attribute the modification of species exclusively to natural selection, I may be permitted to remark that in the first edition of this work, and subsequently, I placed in a most conspicuous position—namely, at the close of the Introduction—the following words: "I am convinced that natural selection has been the main but not the exclusive means of modification." This has been of no avail. Great is the power of steady misrepresentation; but the history of science shows that fortunately this power does not long endure.

(mentioned in Branch G, Scott EC. 2008. The latest face of creationism. Sci Am 300(1):92-99.)

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