Synthesized answer
The author, Stephen Jay Gould, documents the history of the idea of recapitulation. This idea, specifically the statement "Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny," was Haeckel's answer to a significant question in 19th-century biology concerning the relationship between individual development and the evolution of species and lineages [1].
Gould's documentation traces the history of the concept of recapitulation from its earliest known appearances among the pre-Socratics up to its decline and eventual discrediting in the early 20th century [1]. The provided passages do not specify what particular evidence Gould presents to support his documentation of this history.
Synthesized from the book passages below. Chat with the book on Feynman for follow-up.
From the book
Title: Ontogeny and Phylogeny by Stephen Jay Gould Description: “Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny” was Haeckel’s answer to 19th-century biology’s most vexing question: what is the relationship between individual development and the evolution of species and lineages? Gould documents the history of the idea of recapitulation from its first appearance among the pre-Socratics to its fall in the early 20th century. Categories: Science Pages: 522 Snippet: Gould documents the history of the idea of recapitulation from its first appearance among the pre-Socratics to its fall in the early 20th…