See also PG#1228 for the First Edition

Project Gutenberg has several editions of this eBook:
#1228 (1859, 1st Edition, HTML file with table of contents)
#22764 (1860, HTML file with table of contents)
#2009 (6th Ed., HTML, definitive edition)

Release date is 1999-12-01

Sue Asscher and David Widger
Updated: 2022-11-09.

"The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection" by Charles Darwin is a scientific publication written in the mid-19th century. The work discusses the foundational concepts of evolution, focusing on the mechanisms of natural selection and the descent of species from common ancestors. Through rigorous examination of evidence from various fields, Darwin presents a revolutionary framework for understanding the diversity of life on Earth. At the start of this publication, Darwin reflects on the history and evolution of species, outlining how previous naturalists' views have laid the groundwork for his arguments. He introduces the importance of variation, the struggle for existence, and natural selection as driving forces of evolutionary change. He also shares anecdotes from his travels and research, emphasizing empirical observations that challenge the notion of fixed, unchanging species. The writing conveys Darwin's deep commitment to the scientific method, as he strives for collective understanding in a field often clouded by traditional beliefs. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Original publication data not identified