Meaning of ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny | Babel Free

Definitions

The physical, cultural, moral, or intellectual development of each individual passes through stages similar to the developmental stages of that individual's species, society, or civilization. Not taken literally since the late 19th century.

Examples

“With reference to seedling stages the statement that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny must be made with great reserve.”

“Haeckel maintained that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny, and this idea was incorporated by Lombroso into his parallelism between the criminal and the child.”

“For even if we accept that "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny," those responsible for the drafting of ancient legal documents were not children, and are hardly to be endowed with some form of infantile mentality.”

CEFR level