Paragraph one in the last part of it mentions how the critics did not like that he was not addressing the political issues of his era specifically. It also says "social and political state of affairs". So the critics would have responded more favorably if he was 1. addressing his time period and 2. looking at social or political state of affairs

late response but in case anyone still needs it, determinist rely on the fact that biology can be like physics in the sense that there is a universal law explaining the biological phenomenon. Not only is D just irrelevant, but it also states a process that has not been identified. E is more attractive especially because it specifically states "laws governing natural selection"

interested!