creators_name: Wilkins, John S.
creators_name: Nelson, Gareth J.
type: pittpreprint
datestamp: 2008-02-11
lastmod: 2010-10-07 15:16:14
metadata_visibility: show
title: Trémaux on species: A theory of allopatric speciation (and punctuated equilibrium) before Wagner
subjects: biology-evolutionary-theory
subjects: biology-systematics
subjects: history-of-philosophy-of-science
subjects: biology
subjects: history-of-science-case-studies
full_text_status: public
keywords: species concept; species problem; punctuated equilibrium; allopatric theory
abstract: Pierre Trémaux’s 1865 ideas on speciation have been unjustly derided following his acceptance by Marx and rejection by Engels, and almost nobody has read his ideas in a charitable light. Here we offer an interpretation based on translating the term sol as “habitat”, in order to show that Trémaux proposed a theory of allopatric speciation before Wagner and a punctuated equilibrium theory before Gould and Eldredge, and translate the relevant discussion from the French. We believe he may have influenced Darwin’s revision to the third edition of the Origin on rates of evolution, and suggest that Gould’s dismissal of Trémaux is motivated by concern that others might think punctuated equilibrium theory was tainted by a connection with Trémaux.
date: 2008-01
date_type: published
citation: Wilkins, John S. and Nelson, Gareth J. (2008) Trémaux on species: A theory of allopatric speciation (and punctuated equilibrium) before Wagner. [Preprint]
document_url: http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/3881/1/Tremaux%2Don%2Dspecies.pdf