On the Genesis of Species
On the Genesis of Species (1871) is St. George Jackson Mivart's seminal critique of Darwinian natural selection. Drawing on his expertise in comparative anatomy and paleontology, Mivart highlights key challenges to Darwin's theory, including the origin of incipient structures, the convergence of traits in unrelated species, abrupt appearances in the fossil record, and the intrinsic harmony of biological parts. He argues that natural selection alone cannot fully account for the transformation of species and hints at innate formative principles guiding evolution. The book concludes with chapters on ethics and theology, integrating scientific critique with broader philosophical concerns. Historically, it marks the first major challenge to Darwin from a credentialed scientist, helping inaugurate a tradition of scientific dissent regarding the sufficiency of natural selection.
Praise for On the Genesis of Species
I shall be abundantly satisfied and pleased if my Essays do a quarter of the good which I hear your volume is doing... It is pleasant to find that the first real exposition of the logical insufficiency of Mr. Darwin's theory comes from a Catholic.
-John Henry Newman, theologian, author of An Essay in Aid of a Grammar of Assent (1870)
Even those who differ from his conclusions will find a mine of physiological information and ingenious speculation... Mr. Mivart supports his arguments with so much cogency of reasoning, so great a knowledge of anatomical structure, and so complete an acknowledgement of the strength of his opponent's position, that they cannot be disregarded by anyone interested in the subject.
-Alfred William Bennett, botanist, author of The Flora of the Alps (1897)
For apt learning, for clearness of exposition, for force of proof combined with utmost courtesy and good temper, there is no work on the subject that can be compared to the compact volume now before us.
-William George Ward, theologian, author of The Ideal of a Christian Church (1844)
In no work in the English language has this great controversy been treated at once with the same broad and vigorous grasp of facts, and the same liberal and candid temper.
-Anonymous reviewer, The Saturday Review
About the Author
St. George Jackson Mivart (1827-1900) was a Victorian naturalist and expert in primate comparative anatomy. A London-born convert to Catholicism, he gained fame for On the Genesis of Species (1871), a scientific critique of Darwinian natural selection. Mivart wrote extensively on mammalian anatomy and humanity's spiritual nature but later faced conflict with both Darwinists and Catholic authorities, dying excommunicated.
