Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
Proposed an early theory of evolution based on the inheritance of acquired characteristics, though later superseded by Darwin's theory.
Most quoted
"It is not the organs, that is to say, the nature and form of the parts of the body of an animal, which have given rise to its habits and its particular faculties. It is, on the contrary, its habits, its manner of life, and the circumstances in which its ancestors have found themselves, which have, in the course of time, really constituted the form of its body, the number and state of its organs, and, in short, the faculties which it possesses."
— from Philosophie Zoologique, 1809
"Second Law: All the acquisitions or losses wrought by nature on individuals, through the influence of the environment in which their race has long been placed, and hence through the influence of the predominant use or permanent disuse of any organ; all these are preserved by reproduction to the new individuals which arise, provided that the acquired modifications are common to both sexes, or at least to the individuals which produce the young."
— from Philosophie Zoologique, 1809
"It is not the organs, that is to say, the nature and form of the parts of the body, that have given rise to their habits and particular faculties, but it is, on the contrary, their habits, their manner of life, and the circumstances in which the individuals of which the race is formed have found themselves, that have with time constituted the form of the body, the number and state of their organs, and finally the faculties which they possess."
— from Philosophie Zoologique, 1809
All quotes by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (412)
Nature progresses from simple to complex.
Every animal is organized for its mode of life.
The influence of surrounding conditions is profound on living beings.
Inheritance transmits acquired modifications.
Zoology must consider the history of life.
The chain of beings is continuous.
Efforts to satisfy needs produce changes.
Man is but a link in the great chain of nature.
The perfection of organization increases with complexity.
External circumstances act ceaselessly on organisms.
Life is a continuous adaptation.
The will to change drives evolution.
No species is fixed; all transform.
Sensibility and movement are the basis of life.
The earth has witnessed successive creations.
Habits acquired by parents pass to offspring.
Nature's laws are immutable yet allow variation.
The giraffe's neck: a testament to need and effort.
All beings strive for greater perfection.
Classification reveals the order of nature.
Contemporaries of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
Other Biologys born within 50 years of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (1744–1829).