On the Genesis of Species

Description

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.