Darwin and Language

Darwin’s relationship to language in On the Origin of Species is complicated, and sometimes paradoxical. Darwin understood that in order to persuade, or, as Beth put it, convert, his readers to his theory, he had to inhabit language in a meaningful, powerful and convincing way. Darwin had to express his counter-intuitive theory in a way that lay-readers could understand and accept. To do so, Darwin often had to negotiate between the literal content he intended to convey and literary, stylistic choices. I think this is why Darwin, as Allison pointed out, moved between numerous discourses and styles as he personified (and almost deified) “nature” in chapter four. After learning of Darwin’s addition of the word “metaphorically” (in the 2nd edition of Origin) to the passage we discussed in class, I decided to track down the last edition to see if Darwin had made any more changes. Although the passage we discussed remained the same as in the 2nd edition, an additional paragraph near the start of the chapter illuminates some of Darwin’s problematic negotiations with language, style and metaphor. I will excerpt some of the paragraph below, but if you are interested in seeing the full one, please see http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2009/2009-h/2009-h.htm#2HCH0004

“Several writers have misapprehended or objected to the term Natural Selection… In the literal sense of the word, no doubt, natural selection is a false term…It has been said that I speak of natural selection as an active power or Deity…Every one knows what is meant and is implied by such metaphorical expressions; and they are almost necessary for brevity. So again it is difficult to avoid personifying the word Nature; but I mean by nature, only the aggregate action and product of many natural laws, and by laws the sequence of events as ascertained by us. With a little familiarity such superficial objections will be forgotten” (131).

In this paragraph, Darwin is responding to some of the criticisms he received after the publication of Origin. Many of the criticisms are connected to our discussion of Darwin’s struggle to represent nature, and natural selection, with or without agency. Darwin’s critics were clearly troubled by his personification of nature. As his defense, Darwin concedes that natural selection is a “false term.” He admits that it is “difficulte to avoid” the personification of nature, and we see, in Darwin’s admission, how limiting language can be. Darwin laments the the inadequacy of the linguistic signifiers available to him. In order to shift some of the burden to his readers and critics, however, Darwin states that his terms and expressions should clearly be taken as metaphorical, and that “everyone knows” how to read these expressions. The closing line of the paragraph illustrates Darwin’s attempts to understate the importance of his struggle with language by calling linguistic critiques “superficial objections.” This comment also serves to indicate that these critics are missing the true significance of his work, which is the scientific, theoretical content.

Although Darwin was aware of the importance of the language he used to present his theory, he sometimes seems to resent this. Darwin understood the necessity of effective language, but he attempts to efface this significance when it is advantageous to his argument. In chapter six of the 1st edition, Darwin addresses his mistrust of language when he critiques the belief that each species was singularly created, and that when people reword this argument to say it was pleasing to "the Creator," they are “only restating the fact in dignified language” (170). Darwin attempts to reveal the use of language as a diversionary tactic: for Darwin, although inhabiting language effectively is central to success, the content is still more significant than the form.