| 释义 |
transformism|trɑːnsˈfɔːmɪz(ə)m, træns-|
[a. F. transformisme (Broca, Congrès d'anthropol. 1867, p. 401), f. transformer to transform: see -ism.]
1. Biol. The hypothesis that existing species are the product of the gradual transformation of other forms of living beings (loosely, such transformation itself); any form of the doctrine of evolution of species.
1878Bartley tr. Topinard's Anthrop. iii. i. 527 Direct proofs as to transformism are not wanting. 1880Huxley Crayfish vi. 318 We may suppose that crayfishes have resulted from the modification of some other form of living matter; this is what, to borrow a useful word from the French language, is known as..transformism. 1880Nature 27 Jan. 307/1 Degraded plants, affording remarkable specimens of natural transformism. 1883Tylor in Nature 3 May 8/2 These processes of development, or evolution, or transformism were long ago recognised to no small extent by ethnologists.
2. The doctrine of gradual evolution of moral and social relations: loosely, such evolution itself.
1885Athenæum 17 Oct. 510/2 The transformist ‘conference’ at Paris last year was an eloquent lecture by M. Ch. Letourneau on the evolution of morals. The concluding remarks are as follows: ‘In that which relates to education, I am sorry to differ entirely from the principal founder of transformism in morals, H. Spencer’. 1894Liberal 24 Nov. 51/2 A laboratory in which the process of social transformism is carried on. |