Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
the strongest of the species
English answer:
the strongest individuals within a species
Added to glossary by
Paula Vaz-Carreiro
Sep 6, 2007 10:19
16 yrs ago
English term
the strongest of the species
English
Art/Literary
Biology (-tech,-chem,micro-)
theory of evolution
It is not the strongest of the species who survive, not the most intelligent, but those who are the most adaptive to change.
A well-known quotation from Charles Darwin, used as a motto in a book I'm translating. My problem is whether "the strongest of the species" should be understood here as "the strongest species" or "the strongest individuals of each species". The commonly accepted Polish version supports the former, but I'm not sure if this is correct. What do you think?
A well-known quotation from Charles Darwin, used as a motto in a book I'm translating. My problem is whether "the strongest of the species" should be understood here as "the strongest species" or "the strongest individuals of each species". The commonly accepted Polish version supports the former, but I'm not sure if this is correct. What do you think?
Change log
Sep 11, 2007 09:22: Paula Vaz-Carreiro Created KOG entry
Responses
+8
1 hr
Paula Vaz-Carreiro
Native in English
&
English
Benchmark Translations
Native in: Portuguese 
, English
Works in: Portuguese, English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
the strongest individuals within a species
That is how I read it.
If Darwin was referring to "the strongest of all the species", it would be:
"it is not the strongest species that [etc.]
I have also asked my (British) partner and he is adamant that it means "the strongest individuals within a species"
HTH
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2007-09-06 11:45:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Furthermore, although Darwin's theory could be applied to species in general (it is not the strongest species that survive but the most adaptive), I am pretty sure he talking about individuals within the population of the same species - "it's is not the strongest [individual] of the species that survives but the most adaptive".
Here is a quote from: http://www.darwins-theory-of-evolution.com/
In a nutshell, as random genetic mutations occur within an organism's genetic code, the beneficial mutations are preserved because they aid survival -- a process known as "natural selection." These beneficial mutations are passed on to the next generation.
"Next generation" that has to be within the same species, no?
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2007-09-06 13:43:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I am not an expert on Darwin's theory, however, for a species to be able to compete better, natural selection of the most adaptive within that species, must have occurred (first?), no?
Nevertheless, I still contend that, whether or not the asker's quotation is actually Darwin's, it still seems to me that, grammatically speaking, what the sentence says as it stands, is "the strongest individuals within a species".
If Darwin was referring to "the strongest of all the species", it would be:
"it is not the strongest species that [etc.]
I have also asked my (British) partner and he is adamant that it means "the strongest individuals within a species"
HTH
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2007-09-06 11:45:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Furthermore, although Darwin's theory could be applied to species in general (it is not the strongest species that survive but the most adaptive), I am pretty sure he talking about individuals within the population of the same species - "it's is not the strongest [individual] of the species that survives but the most adaptive".
Here is a quote from: http://www.darwins-theory-of-evolution.com/
In a nutshell, as random genetic mutations occur within an organism's genetic code, the beneficial mutations are preserved because they aid survival -- a process known as "natural selection." These beneficial mutations are passed on to the next generation.
"Next generation" that has to be within the same species, no?
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2007-09-06 13:43:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I am not an expert on Darwin's theory, however, for a species to be able to compete better, natural selection of the most adaptive within that species, must have occurred (first?), no?
Nevertheless, I still contend that, whether or not the asker's quotation is actually Darwin's, it still seems to me that, grammatically speaking, what the sentence says as it stands, is "the strongest individuals within a species".
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Carol Gullidge
: yes, otherwise it would be "the strongest species". That would imply that thw world would be populated with elephants, etc, to the exclusion of smaller creatures. It's the survival of the fittest within species
16 mins
|
|
Thanks a lot Carol - and I think that is definitely what Darwin was talking about.
|
|
| neutral |
Alexander Demyanov
: I'm not 100% confident in my reading but see, for example, this quote from your link: "Natural selection is the preservation of a functional advantage that enables *a species* to compete better...". +Carol's "elephants" note actually supports my reading
53 mins
|
|
I see your point Alexander but please see the note I am going to add above.
|
|
| agree |
Marie-Hélène Hayles
: Give that is apocryphal rather than an actual quote, I think it must mean "within a species" - natural selection works within a species to change the characteristics of that species. Alexander's quote does not contradict this.
2 hrs
|
|
Thanks Marie - I think you are and that his quotation doesn't not contradic it.
|
|
| agree |
BusterK
: Actually it is the origin of species, so indeed the best suited in a species that may evolve into a new one. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Origin_of_Species
3 hrs
|
|
Thanks B.
|
|
| agree |
R. Alex Jenkins
3 hrs
|
|
Thanks Richard
|
|
| agree |
Sajjad Hamadani
17 hrs
|
|
Thanks A.
|
|
| agree |
Alfa Trans (X)
22 hrs
|
|
Thanks Marju
|
|
| agree |
Elena Aleksandrova
2 days 2 hrs
|
|
Thanks Elena
|
|
| agree |
Cilian O'Tuama
: assuming Darwin was able to express himself clearly :-)
2 days 16 hrs
|
|
:-) Cheers!
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Many thanks for your help, Paula!"
51 mins
Alexander Demyanov
Software Engineering background
Native in: Russian
Works in: English, Russian, Russian to English, and 1 more.
I believe it is the former, and here is why:
1. To be "adaptive to change" seems to relate to evolutionary adaptations. This happens with entire species.
2. If he were to mean individual representatives of a species, then the statement wouldn't be correct. Within a living population, it is the strongest/most intelligent representatives who survive.
3. "The" in "the species" means that it's either a reference to a particular species (would have to be mentioned before the phrase) or "all the species". Otherwise, he'd have said, "in a species, it's not the strongest..."
2. If he were to mean individual representatives of a species, then the statement wouldn't be correct. Within a living population, it is the strongest/most intelligent representatives who survive.
3. "The" in "the species" means that it's either a reference to a particular species (would have to be mentioned before the phrase) or "all the species". Otherwise, he'd have said, "in a species, it's not the strongest..."
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
BusterK
: Sorry, but I had to change this one, having read the ref I had to the other answer. It is not the whole species that adapt, but some of its members that may eventually form a new one.
58 mins
|
|
Thanks, BsterK!
|
Discussion