---
title: "Darwin | Evolutionary biology | Thought Archive"
number: "063"
slug: "063-darwin"
author: "Wenzi / 文子"
language: "en"
canonical: "https://tongzai.space/en/thought-archive/063-darwin/"
is_primary_text: true
---

# Darwin（Evolutionary biology）



## Common research question

**Does natural selection imply inevitable progress?**

Darwin's natural selection concerns heritable variation and differences in survival and reproduction under particular conditions. Evolution has no guaranteed trajectory toward “higher” beings; fitness is environment-dependent. Common descent and variation matter alongside selection, and the slogan “survival of the fittest” cannot replace Darwin's arguments.

## Interpretive boundary

Distinguish Darwin's texts and revisions from later evolutionary synthesis.

## Archive evidence

- [E-04 ｜ Chapter 4｜definition of natural selection](#E-04)
- [E-03 ｜ Chapter 3｜the struggle for existence in the broad sense](#E-03)