Natural selection, as introduced by Charles Darwin in the Origin of
Species (1859), has always been a topic of great conceptual and
empirical interest. This book puts Darwin's theory of evolution in
historical context showing that, in important respects, his central
mechanism of natural selection gives the clue to understanding the
nature of organisms. Natural selection has important implications, not
just for the understanding of life's history - single-celled organism to
man - but also for our understanding of contemporary social norms, as
well as the nature of religious belief. The book is written in clear,
non-technical language, appealing not just to philosophers, historians,
and biologists, but also to general readers who find thinking about
important issues both challenging and exciting.