Robert Hooke as Geologist and Evolutionist

Abstract

A LTHOUGH a very large volume would be required to do full justice to every aspect of Robert Hooke's genius, it is somewhat surprising that so little reference has been made in this tercentenary of his birth to his evolutionary views. Indeed, apart from an article by A. P. Pavlow entitled “Robert Hooke, un evolutioniste oublie du XVIIe siecle” (Palaeobiologica, 1; 1928), and brief references, with extracts from his writings, in a “Guide to the Early History of Palaeontology” published by the British Museum (1931), Hooke's belief in the mutability of species has been largely overlooked.