From Darwin to Empedocles and Anaximander. Pre-Darwinian Conceptions of Evolution

Abstract

The article considers hints of theory of evolution given by the authors before Darwin. It takes notice of Darwin’s citation of Aristotle, but in fact of Empedocles.

In the following it goes back in time giving an account of Empedocles’ zoogony, the origin of life according to T. Lucretius Carus, (proto)evolutionary thought of Heraclitus and Anaximander.

It also touches upon the problem of modern biology to come to terms with the influence of Aristotelian tradition.

Keywords

• ancient conceptions of evolution
• Darwin
• Empedocles
• Lucretius
• Heraclitus
• Anaximander