Ernst Haeckel

Abstract

MANY scientists will have read with keen interest Prof. MacBride's delightful sketch of Haeckel's work in NATURE of February 10. As he points out, Haeckel's career belongs to the heroic stage of the history of the theory of evolution ; certainly few men have been subjected to greater obloquy for promulgating that or any other doctrine. When his “General Morphology” appeared, it was met with “icy silence”—a reception which the impetuous and combative Haeckel could not tolerate. He would have preferred hostile criticism, rather than indifference ; and to this indifference on the part of his fellow-scientists can be traced the commencement of that series of popular works on evolution which were met, not with “icy silence”, but with fiery blasts from scientists and laymen alike.