--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The doctrine of evolution implies the…" description: "\"The doctrine of evolution implies the passage from the most organised to the least organised, or, in other terms, from the most general to the most spe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/242/john-hughlings-jackson-65522_arrangements_the-doctrine-of-evolution-implies-the-pa_1726238.png" --- # The doctrine of evolution implies the passage from the… ![“The doctrine of evolution implies the passage from the most organised to the least organised, or, in other terms, from the most general to the most special. Roughly, we say that there is a gradual 'adding on' of the more and more special, a continual adding on of new organisations. But this…” quote by John Hughlings Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/242/john-hughlings-jackson-65522_arrangements_the-doctrine-of-evolution-implies-the-pa_1726238.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/242/john-hughlings-jackson-65522_arrangements_the-doctrine-of-evolution-implies-the-pa_1726238.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/242/john-hughlings-jackson-65522_arrangements_the-doctrine-of-evolution-implies-the-pa_1726238.png) > “The doctrine of evolution implies the passage from the most organised to the least organised, or, in other terms, from the most general to the most special. Roughly, we say that there is a gradual 'adding on' of the more and more special, a continual adding on of new organisations. But this 'adding on' is at the same time a 'keeping down'. The higher nervous arrangements evolved out of the lower keep down those lower, just as a government evolved out of a nation controls as well as directs that nation.” [John Hughlings Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hughlings-jackson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Evolution adds complexity while preserving earlier structures, creating hierarchical organization where higher levels control lower ones. **In simple terms:** Complexity builds on simpler parts, yet retains them. Key Takeaway Recognize how new layers build on and regulate older ones. Themes hierarchy control complexity evolution systems Mood reflective analytical Type theoretical explanatory When to use this quote - Organizational design - software architecture - education curriculum - government policy - personal development Key Concepts Neuroscience systems theory biological hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance new ideas with existing structures? - What mechanisms prevent lower levels from being overly constrained? A Different Perspective Higher levels can suppress innovation from lower levels if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arrangements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrangements/) [Arrangements Evolved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrangements-evolved-1386957/) [Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) [Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine/) [Doctrine Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine-evolution-1386954/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Evolution Implies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution-implies-1386956/) [Evolved Lower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolved-lower-1386958/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Evolved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-evolved-1386955/) [Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous/) [Organisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organisation/) [Organised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organised/) [Passages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passages/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [Teaching Authority of the Church does not forbid ... research and discussions ... with regard to the doctrine of evolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xii/teaching-authority-of-the-church-does-not-forbid-research-and/) [Pope Pius XII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xii/) > [“The doctrine of evolution thus takes the place of the old religion in the modern man.320It is no science; it does not rest on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/the-doctrine-of-evolution-thus-takes-the-place-of-the-old-religion-in/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [“The belief in a happy "state of nature" in the remote past is derived partly from the biblical narrative of the age of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-belief-in-a-happy-state-of-nature-in-the-remote-past-is-derived/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Wherever sufficiently numerous series of the remains of any given group, which has endured for a long space of time, are carefully examined, their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-henry-huxley/wherever-sufficiently-numerous-series-of-the-remains-of-any-given/) [Thomas Henry Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-henry-huxley/) > [The Doctrine of Evolution states the fact that the present is the child of the past and the parent of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-arthur-thomson/the-doctrine-of-evolution-states-the-fact-that-the-present-is-the/) [J. Arthur Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-arthur-thomson/) > [“To understand Darwin's work, you have to distinguish between his theory of descent and his theory of natural selection. THe full name of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-spetner/to-understand-darwin-s-work-you-have-to-distinguish-between-his/) [Lee Spetner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-spetner/) > [It is needless to say how great has been the influence of the doctrine of Evolution, or rather perhaps of the method of investigation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldwin-smith/it-is-needless-to-say-how-great-has-been-the-influence-of-the/) [Goldwin Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldwin-smith/) > [I'm a very motivated person, and that goes hand in hand with being very organised. I always plan what I need to do to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steph-houghton/i-m-a-very-motivated-person-and-that-goes-hand-in-hand-with-being/) [Steph Houghton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steph-houghton/) > [After the ignominious collapse of the Copenhagen global climate change summit in 2009, Bolivia organised a People's Summit with 35,000 participants from 140 countries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/after-the-ignominious-collapse-of-the-copenhagen-global-climate/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Would I describe myself as new Labour? I'm Labour, organised Labour. I think labels have a limited use and that's where you really get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-o-grady/would-i-describe-myself-as-new-labour-i-m-labour-organised-labour-i/) [Frances O'Grady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-o-grady/) > [My daughter is a fantastic travelling companion - she's totally organised, whereas I'm hopeless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-rosoff/my-daughter-is-a-fantastic-travelling-companion-she-s-totally/) [Meg Rosoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-rosoff/) > [My life at the moment is a bit like my wardrobe. Organised chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/my-life-at-the-moment-is-a-bit-like-my-wardrobe-organised-chaos/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) > [Parties are organised happiness but happiness is accidental. You can't legislate for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-skinner/parties-are-organised-happiness-but-happiness-is-accidental-you-can-t/) [Dennis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-skinner/) > [I love the idea of the teachings of Jesus Christ and the beautiful stories about it, which I loved in Sunday school and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-love-the-idea-of-the-teachings-of-jesus-christ-and-the-beautiful/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I don't iron my underwear and socks, but I like things to be organised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/i-don-t-iron-my-underwear-and-socks-but-i-like-things-to-be-organised/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) ## More by John Hughlings Jackson > [It takes 50 years to get a wrong idea out of medicine, and 100 years a right one into medicine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hughlings-jackson/it-takes-50-years-to-get-a-wrong-idea-out-of-medicine-and-100-years-a/) [John Hughlings Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hughlings-jackson/) > [It has been said that he who was the first to abuse his fellow-man instead of knocking out his brains without a word, laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hughlings-jackson/it-has-been-said-that-he-who-was-the-first-to-abuse-his-fellow-man/) [John Hughlings Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hughlings-jackson/) > [For in disease the most voluntary or most special movements, faculties, etc., suffer first and most, that is in an order the exact opposite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hughlings-jackson/for-in-disease-the-most-voluntary-or-most-special-movements-faculties/) [John Hughlings Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hughlings-jackson/) [Explore all 4 John Hughlings Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hughlings-jackson/) ## More Arrangements quotes > [for the obvious reason that nature - unadulterated and unimproved by man - is simply chaos. 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Considered conversely, the artist's task is to fill his panel with a design that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/there-must-be-a-judicious-arrangement-of-all-the-parts-considered/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) > [Autonomy means women defining themselves and the values by which they will live, and beginning to think of institutional arrangements which will order their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerda-lerner/autonomy-means-women-defining-themselves-and-the-values-by-which-they/) [Gerda Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerda-lerner/) > [Donald Trump has the media wrapped around his little finger. 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