doctrine of descent

British  

noun

1. the theory that animals and plants arose by descent from previously existing organisms; theory of evolution

---

Example Sentences

De Vries' theory in no way affects the doctrine of descent, nor does it take away from the importance of natural selection in fixing the variations.

From Sociology and Modern Social Problems by Ellwood, Charles A. (Charles Abram)

On the contrary, Virchow takes them quite easily, sets them aside, and declares that "certain proofs" of the doctrine of descent do not exist, but remain to be discovered.

From Freedom in Science and Teaching. from the German of Ernst Haeckel by Huxley, Thomas Henry

Pre-Darwinian philosophers had also tried to establish the doctrine of descent with modification; but they all committed the blunder of clumping the two cycles of causation into one.

From The Will to Believe : and Other Essays in Popular Philosophy by James, William

These differences occur even with reference to the fundamental doctrine generally adhered to, the doctrine of descent.

From Naturalism And Religion by Otto, Rudolf

Then the doctrine of descent was struggling for existence against principalities and powers both temporal and spiritual, and then it was still relevant to pit it against the theory of special creations.

From Herbert Spencer by Thomson, J. Arthur (John Arthur)