orthoplasyn.
/ˈɔːθə(ʊ)pleɪzi/, U.S. /ˈɔrθoʊˌpleɪzi/ Biology. Now historical.
J. M. Baldwin's term for: the retention and transmission by an organism of characteristics acquired through ontogenetic modification, prior or in addition to the apparent continuation of such characteristics through natural selection; a theory of evolution that postulates such development.
ΚΠ
1897 J. M. Baldwin in Science 23 Apr. 635 Orthoplasy (Baldwin) the directive or determining influence of organic selection in evolution.
1902 J. M. Baldwin Dict. Philos. & Psychol. II. 251/1 Orthoplasy..emphasizes natural selection working upon variations in many cases screened and fostered by the presence of individual modifications.
1902 J. M. Baldwin Devel. & Evol. xii. 142 The theory of evolution which makes general use of organic selection is called Orthoplasy.
1943 C. R. Griffith Princ. Systematic Psychol. viii. 295 Even if a, b, c, etc., were given a small value, say 100, the chances that any particular combination would survive would be incredibly small. Baldwin's theory of orthoplasy was an attempt to meet this difficulty.
Derivatives
orthoˈplastic adj. rare of, relating to, or involving orthoplasy.
ΚΠ
1897 J. M. Baldwin in Science 23 Apr. 635/2 Orthoplastic influences (Baldwin): all agencies of accommodation (e.g., organic plasticity, imitation, intelligence, etc.) considered as directing the course of evolution through organic selection.
1902 J. M. Baldwin Devel. & Evol. x. 142 The influences we may call ‘orthoplastic’ or directive influences.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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