The search for a macroevolutionary theory in German paleontology

摘要: Six schools of thought can be detected in the development evolutionary theory German paleontology between 1859 and World War II. Most paleontologists were hardly affected their research by Darwin's Origin Species. The traditionalists (School 1) accepted evolution within lower taxa (genera families) but not for organisms general. They also rejected selection. early Darwinians 2) transmutation selection as axioms applied them fruitfully to fossil record, thereby laying foundation new areas phylogeny paleo-biology. enthusiasm faded when record problems its interpretion became more widely known. pluralists turn century 3) invented adopted a wealth hypothetical mechanisms order explain individual features record. failed, however, provide one coherent theory. Dissatisfaction with this situation led adoption dogmatic neo-Lamarckism 4), which was regarded providing fruitful program. rejection Lamarckian mechanism left only kind mechanism: inner causes. Like many neo-Lamarckians several orthogeneticists 5) highly interested adaptation did see any contradiction causes adaptation. dominance stratigraphical programs 1930s 1940s decrease interest Stratigraphical records meaningful context Orthogenesis concepts saltation cyclicism amalgamated into theory: typostrophism 6). This dominated decades after war recently has synthetic been seriously considered. Evolution never very intensively discussed hundred years book. information used here comes from textbooks or papers given on special occasions. It impossible summarize how members school defended views ideas competing schools.