What was de Candolle's central theory on natural order?
My central concern was to establish a natural order, not an artificial one, in the classification of organisms. I believed that by observing shared characteristics, one could deduce the underlying familial relationships and evolutionary pathways of plants. This involved identifying homologous structures and developmental patterns, suggesting a grand, interconnected system governed by natural laws. My work aimed to reflect this inherent, discoverable order.
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