DARWIN AND ESSENTIALISM

Abstract

Darwin’s theory of evolution is considered within the context of conceptual problem of essence, and of essentialisms, which are grounded by logical determining of concepts such as mutation, difference and alterity. Darwin’s theory of evolution appears to differ from paradigms of evolutionary thinkinkg which are based on objectivistic classifi catory and typological essentialisms. These essentialisms presuppose priority of concepts of identity and immutation. Biological-philosophycal thinking, as population thinking, constitutes classifi cations after conceptual analysis of problems of variation and modifi cation, which proves this thinking to be a revolutionary one.