Özet:

It is possible to trace the intellectual origins of the concept of evolution, which is based on the phenomenon of change, to Ancient Greek. However, the emergence of evolution as a scientific theory to the stage of history had been possible in the 19th century. Evolution is scientifically discussed first through transformation theory in Jean-Baptiste Lamarck’s (1744-1829) works, known as the Zoological Philosophy [Philosophie Zoologique] published in 1809 and Natural History of Invertebrate Animals [Histoire naturelle des animaux sans vertèbres] began to published in 1815, followed by natural selection mechanism in Charles Darwin’s (1809-1882) work, known as On the Origin of Species, published in 1859. Evolution Theory became entirely a current issue in the social and cultural atmosphere of Europe in the second half of the 19th century and Lamarck’s and Darwin’s theories were discussed and compared until the 1930s. In the light of this atmosphere, it is possible to consider the introduction of the Theory of Evolution to Turkey through two periods. We can call the first period as the Adaptation Period (1873-1892) and the second period as the Adoption Period (1908-1923). When the major works published in these two periods are examined, it is seen that the Ottomans established an intellectual bond with Lamarck, not with Darwin, contrary to what is generally believed. The aim of this study is to reveal with justifications that the Ottomans took a closer stance to Lamarck’s ideas than Darwin’s.

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