neo-lamarckism
C2+ / Extremely Rare / Specialized AcademicHighly specialized academic, historical-scientific, formal.
Definition
Meaning
A modern revival or adaptation of Lamarck's theory of evolution, emphasizing the inheritance of acquired characteristics.
The belief, arising after Darwin, that organisms can pass on traits acquired during their lifetime to their offspring, often discussed in critiques of strict neo-Darwinism or in certain epigenetic contexts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a historical and philosophical term in evolutionary biology. Its use is almost exclusively metadiscursive (discussing theories, not applying them). Not a term used to describe actual biological processes in mainstream modern science.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: In British English, the hyphen is more consistently retained (neo-Lamarckism with capital L). In American English, it may sometimes appear as 'neo-Lamarckism' or less commonly as 'Neolamarckism'.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties. Connotes a heterodox, largely abandoned, or historical evolutionary theory. May have slightly stronger historical association with late 19th/early 20th century debates in British biology.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. Possibly marginally more frequent in British academic historical texts due to specific national scientific history.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Neo-Lamarckism] + [verb: fell/was rejected/persisted]The [theory/idea/doctrine] of [neo-Lamarckism]A [revival/return] to [neo-Lamarckism]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No established idioms. The word itself is a technical term.]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Never used.
Academic
Used in history and philosophy of science, theoretical biology. E.g., 'The paper examines the persistence of neo-Lamarckism in early 20th-century botany.'
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Used precisely to label a specific set of historical or heterodox evolutionary ideas. E.g., 'These epigenetic mechanisms are sometimes misinterpreted as a form of neo-Lamarckism.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- [No direct verb form. Periphrastic: 'to advocate for neo-Lamarckism']
American English
- [No direct verb form. Periphrastic: 'to embrace neo-Lamarckist ideas']
adverb
British English
- [No established adverb form.]
American English
- [No established adverb form.]
adjective
British English
- The neo-Lamarckian position was rigorously critiqued.
- He held neo-Lamarckist views on plant evolution.
American English
- A neo-Lamarckian interpretation of the data was proposed.
- The textbook mentioned neo-Lamarckian theorists.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- [Not applicable for A2 level.]
- [Not applicable for B1 level.]
- Scientists once debated between Darwinism and neo-Lamarckism.
- The idea that learned behaviours can be inherited is a form of neo-Lamarckism.
- The late 19th century saw a significant, if ultimately futile, revival of neo-Lamarckism in several biological disciplines.
- Modern epigenetics is sometimes cautiously discussed in relation to historical neo-Lamarckist concepts, though the parallels are highly limited.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: NEO (new) + LAMARCK (the scientist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck) + ISM (a doctrine). A new version of Lamarck's old idea that giraffes' long necks, stretched from reaching, are passed to their babies.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE ORGANISMS (it is a 'revival' or 'persistent strain' of thought), THEORIES ARE BUILDINGS (it has 'foundations', is 'dismantled').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing 'neo-lamarckism' with 'Lamarckism' (ламаркизм). The 'neo-' prefix is crucial for the later, revised theories.
- Do not translate as 'неодарвинизм' (neo-Darwinism), which is its direct opposite.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing 'Lamarck' as /læˈmɑːrk/ instead of /ləˈmɑːrk/.
- Using it as a synonym for any non-genetic inheritance (overgeneralization).
- Spelling: 'Neolamarkism' (missing 'c').
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the term 'neo-lamarckism' MOST appropriately be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the core premise of the inheritance of acquired characteristics as formulated in historical neo-Lamarckism is rejected by modern evolutionary biology, which is based on neo-Darwinism and genetics.
Lamarckism refers to Jean-Baptiste Lamarck's original early 19th-century ideas. Neo-Lamarckism refers to later, post-Darwinian revivals (late 19th/early 20th century) that attempted to modify and modernize Lamarck's concepts in light of new biological discoveries.
No. While some epigenetic mechanisms involve non-genetic inheritance of certain states, this is highly specific, regulated, and operates within the framework of neo-Darwinian evolution. It does not validate the broad, direct inheritance of acquired physical traits central to neo-Lamarckism.
Historically, figures like the American paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope and, in some aspects, the British writer Samuel Butler. It had adherents in botany and microbiology into the early 20th century.