The Origin of Species · Character

Agassiz

A prominent naturalist who opposed the theory of evolution.

minor

Also known as Agassiz, Mr. Agassiz

First appearance: vi difficulties of the theory

Agassiz's tie to Charles Darwin is one of the pressures that moves The Origin of Species—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

Noted the anomalous nature of blind cave fish such as Amblyopsis.

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With Charles Darwin (rivalry): Agassiz was a prominent scientific opponent of Darwin's theory, advocating for special creation and polygenism. In Effects of the Increased Use and Disuse of Parts, as Controlled by…

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See Agassiz in vi difficulties of the theory

Character Web

12 connections

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Relationship types

Rivalry
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Character groups

Broad intellectual network
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This passage marks the story's dramatic climax because Darwin shifts from a defensive posture against objectio…

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Relationships

Charles Darwin
rivalry · negative
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Relationship notes

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See Agassiz in vi difficulties of the theory

In the story

Agassiz appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Effects of the Increased Use and Disuse of Parts, as Controlled by Natural Selection
Noted the anomalous nature of blind cave fish such as Amblyopsis.
On the Imperfection of the Geological Record
Mentioned as one of the palaeontologists who argued that the sudden appearance of species groups is fatal to transmutation.
On the Absence of Numerous Intermediate Varieties in Any Single Formation
Mentioned as a naturalist who maintains that tertiary species are specifically distinct from living ones, despite slight differences.
On the Sudden Appearance of Whole Groups of Allied Species
Mentioned as one of the palaeontologists who urged the sudden appearance of groups as an objection to transmutation.
On the Sudden Appearance of Groups of Allied Species in the Lowest Known Fossiliferous Strata
Maintained the immutability of species; also maintained the view that large islands existed near continents.
On the Affinities of Extinct Species to Each Other, and to Living Forms
Mentioned for his terms 'prophetic or synthetic types' referring to intermediate fossil forms.
On the State of Development of Ancient Compared with Living Forms
Mentioned as one who insists that ancient animals resemble embryos of recent forms.
Dispersal During the Glacial Period
Called vivid attention to the Glacial period, providing a simple explanation for the distribution of identical species.
Development and Embryology
Believed that ancient and extinct forms often resemble the embryos of existing species, a law Darwin discusses.

Chapter companion notes

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See Agassiz in vi difficulties of the theory

See Agassiz in Effects of the Increased Use and Disuse of Parts, as Controlled by Natural Selection