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Ernst Mayr

Ernst Mayr Quotes

Biologist

German-American biologist and a pioneer in evolutionary biology, Ernst Mayr made significant contributions to the development of modern evolutionary theory. His research in systematics, speciation, and biological classification had a profound impact on the field.

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Famous Ernst Mayr Quotes

“The major novelty of my theory was its claim that the most rapid evolutionary change does not occur in widespread, populous species, as claimed by Most geneticists, but in small founder populations.”

Doe Theory Majors Claims Species Population Founders Rapids Novelty

Book:Toward a New Philosophy of Biology: Observations of an Evolutionist

Source: Toward a New Philosophy of Biology: Observations of an Evolutionist

“The history of science knows scores of instances where an investigator was in the possession of all the important facts for a new theory but simply failed to ask the right questions.”

Knows Important Facts Asks Theory Possession Instance Score Investigators History Of Science Right Questions

Book:The Growth of Biological Thought: Diversity, Evolution, and Inheritance

Source: The Growth of Biological Thought: Diversity, Evolution, and Inheritance

“anyone who writes about "Darwin's theory of evolutionin the singular, without segregating the theories of gradual evolution, common descent, speciation, and the mechanism of natural selection, will be quite unable to discuss the subject competently.”

Writing Natural Common Society Subjects Theory Evolution Mechanism Selection Natural Selection Descent Speciation

Author:Ernst Mayr

“Evolution as such is no longer a theory for a modern author. It is as much a fact as that the earth revolves around the sun.”

Facts Earth Sun Society Atheism Modern Theory Evolution

Book:What Makes Biology Unique?: Considerations on the Autonomy of a Scientific Discipline

Source: What Makes Biology Unique?: Considerations on the Autonomy of a Scientific Discipline

“It is curious how often erroneous theories have had a beneficial effect for particular branches of science.”

Science Effects Particular Theory Accounts Curiosity Curious Branches Beneficial

Book:The Growth of Biological Thought: Diversity, Evolution, and Inheritance

Source: The Growth of Biological Thought: Diversity, Evolution, and Inheritance