2006/12/01 by John Beatty · 55 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Arts and Humanities · Psychology · #Plant and animal studies #Evolution and Science Education #Animal and Plant Science Education #Darwin (ADL) #Argument (complex analysis) #Origin of species #Natural selection #Variation (astronomy) #Charles darwin #Selection (genetic algorithm) #Teleological argument #Philosophy #Darwinism #Epistemology #Evolutionary biology #Genealogy #Biology #History #Computer science #Artificial intelligence
paper · doi:10.1086/518332
published in Philosophy of Science 73(5), 629-641 (Cambridge University Press)
openalex publication_date 2006/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/07
How, according to Darwin, does chance variation affect evolutionary outcomes? In his 1866 book, On the Various Contrivances by which British and Foreign Orchids are Fertilised by Insects , Darwin developed an argument that played an important role in his overall case for evolution by natural selection, as articulated in later editions of the Origin . This argument also figured significantly in Darwin's reflections on the theological dimensions of evolution by natural selection.