No animal is higher than another
Aphorism
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I am a naturalist, geologist and biologist. My research showed that all species of life descend from a common ancestor, and with Alfred Russel Wallace I introduced natural selection as the process that drives that branching.
Extending evolution to human mind and behaviour
4 milestones
Applied evolutionary theory to human origins, sexual selection and emotions, integrating mind with biological evolution.
Lyell and Hooker arranged joint presentation with Wallace and secured John Murray to publish the work establishing the
During a major reassessment after barnacle research, realised species divergence fills ecological roles in nature.
Served as self-funded naturalist on the Beagle survey, keeping control of collections that underpinned later research.
My plant and soil research ran alongside evolution: I was first to recognise the significance of carnivory in plants, traced the movements of climbing plants, and turned an 1837 idea about earthworms and soil into my final book.
Critics said my theory failed because it did not explain the origin of life. I answered that science accepted Newton's law of gravity though the cause of gravity was unknown.
In November 1854 I realised why descendants of one species differ more and more: each becomes adapted to "diversified places in the economy of nature". This principle of divergence completed my theory.