Why Darwin and Wallace Disagreed About Domestic Varieties

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Biology
• History and Philosophy of Science

Background:

• Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace independently developed theories of evolution by natural selection.
• A notable divergence existed between Darwin and Wallace regarding the role and implications of artificial selection.
• Scholarly debate continues regarding the depth and nature of this disagreement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the divergence between Darwin and Wallace on artificial selection.
• To argue that their disagreement was substantial and rooted in differing views on natural selection's capabilities.
• To explore the implications of this divergence in light of their respective scientific projects.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of Darwin's and Wallace's writings and theories.
• Examination of their joint 1858 presentation to the Linnean Society.
• Historical and philosophical interpretation of their views on artificial and natural selection.

Main Results:

• Darwin and Wallace agreed artificial selection produces traits influenced by human aesthetics and organismal dependence on artificial environments.
• They disagreed on whether natural selection could produce analogous traits and dependencies.
• Darwin believed natural selection could yield comparable outcomes, while Wallace denied this possibility.

Conclusions:

• The disagreement on artificial selection reflects substantial differences in their understanding of natural selection's scope.
• This divergence is best understood within the context of their wider scientific goals and projects.
• Wallace could have accepted Darwin's argument by analogy but questioned its desirability, aligning with his theoretical commitments.