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Single Idea 19776

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / G. Biology / 3. Evolution]

Full Idea

Negligible causes may have surprising power when they act without interruption.

Gist of Idea

Small uninterrupted causes can have big effects

Source

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Discourse on the Origin of Inequality [1754], Part I)

A Reaction

A wonderfully simple observation that is a key idea of the theory of evolution. If life was created 6,000 years ago, evolution is impossible. If it appeared 500,000,000 years ago, how could evolution NOT occur? Little changes must occur.

Book Reference

Rousseau,Jean-Jacques: 'The Basic Political Writings', ed/tr. Cress,Donald A. [Hackett 1987], p.59