1984Unpublished venueRequires access

Evolution the history of an idea

Peter J. Bowler

Open publisher page 974 citations

Abstract

List of Illustrations Preface to the Third Edition Preface to the First Edition 1. The Idea of Evolution: Its Scope and Implications The Old Worldview and the New The Possibilities of Change The Nature of Science The Historian's Problems 2. The Pre-evolutionary Worldview Human History Theories of the Earth The Meaning of Fossils Natural Theology The New Natural History The Problem of Generation 3. Evolution in the Enlightenment Human Nature The Origin of Society The History of the Earth The Chain of Being The New Classification The New Theories of Generation The Materialists The First Transmutationists 4. Nature and Society, 1800-1859 The Invention of Progress The Framework of Science Georges Cuvier: Fossils and the History of Life Catastrophism and Natural Theology in Britain The Philosophical Naturalists Radical Science The Principle of Uniformity The Vestiges of Creation 5. The Development of Darwin's Theory Darwin's Early Career The Crucial Years: 1836-1839 Development of the Theory, 1840-1859 Wallace and Publication of the Theory 6. The Reception of Darwin's Theory The Foundations of Darwinism The Scientific Debate Darwinism and Design Human Origins Evolution and Progress 7. The Eclipse of Darwinism: Scientific Evolutionism, 1875-1925 Reconstructing the History of Life The Age of the Earth Neo-Lamarckism Orthogenesis Neo-Darwinism Mendelism and the Mutation Theory 8. Evolution, Society, and Culture, 1875-1925 The Missing Link The Origins of Culture and Society Evolution and Race Social Evolutionism Biological Determinism Neo-Lamarckism and Society Evolution and Philosophy Evolution and Religion 9. The Evolutionary Synthesis Population Genetics The Modern Synthesis The Origin of Life Wider Implications of the Synthesis 10. Modern Debates and Developments The History of Life Human Origins Sociobiology and Ultra-Darwinism Opponents of Ultra-Darwinism Anti-Darwinians Darwinism not Scientific? Creationism Bibliography Index

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List of Illustrations Preface to the Third Edition Preface to the First Edition 1. The Idea of Evolution: Its Scope and Implications The Old Worldview and the New The Possibilities of Change The Nature of Science The Historian's Problems 2. The Pre-evolutionary Worldview Human History Theories of the Earth The Meaning of Fossils Natural Theology The New Natural History The Problem of Generation 3. Evolution in the Enlightenment Human Nature The Origin of Society The History of the Earth The Chain of Being The New Classification The New Theories of Generation The Materialists The First Transmutationists 4. Nature and Society, 1800-1859 The Invention of Progress The Framework of Science Georges Cuvier: Fossils and the History of Life Catastrophism and Natural Theology in Britain The Philosophical Naturalists Radical Science The Principle of Uniformity The Vestiges of Creation 5. The Development of Darwin's Theory Darwin's Early Career The Crucial Years: 1836-1839 Development of the Theory, 1840-1859 Wallace and Publication of the Theory 6. The Reception of Darwin's Theory The Foundations of Darwinism The Scientific Debate Darwinism and Design Human Origins Evolution and Progress 7. The Eclipse of Darwinism: Scientific Evolutionism, 1875-1925 Reconstructing the History of Life The Age of the Earth Neo-Lamarckism Orthogenesis Neo-Darwinism Mendelism and the Mutation Theory 8. Evolution, Society, and Culture, 1875-1925 The Missing Link The Origins of Culture and Society Evolution and Race Social Evolutionism Biological Determinism Neo-Lamarckism and Society Evolution and Philosophy Evolution and Religion 9. The Evolutionary Synthesis Population Genetics The Modern Synthesis The Origin of Life Wider Implications of the Synthesis 10. Modern Debates and Developments The History of Life Human Origins Sociobiology and Ultra-Darwinism Opponents of Ultra-Darwinism Anti-Darwinians Darwinism not Scientific? Creationism Bibliography Index

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List of Illustrations Preface to the Third Edition Preface to the First Edition 1. The Idea of Evolution: Its Scope and Implications The Old Worldview and the New The Possibilities of Change The Nature of Science The Historian's Problems 2. The Pre-evolutionary Worldview Human History Theories of the Earth The Meaning of Fossils Natural Theology The New Natural History The Problem of Generation 3. Evolution in the Enlightenment Human Nature The Origin of Society The History of the Earth The Chain of Being The New Classification The New Theories of Generation The Materialists The First Transmutationists 4. Nature and Society, 1800-1859 The Invention of Progress The Framework of Science Georges Cuvier: Fossils and the History of Life Catastrophism and Natural Theology in Britain The Philosophical Naturalists Radical Science The Principle of Uniformity The Vestiges of Creation 5. The Development of Darwin's Theory Darwin's Early Career The Crucial Years: 1836-1839 Development of the Theory, 1840-1859 Wallace and Publication of the Theory 6. The Reception of Darwin's Theory The Foundations of Darwinism The Scientific Debate Darwinism and Design Human Origins Evolution and Progress 7. The Eclipse of Darwinism: Scientific Evolutionism, 1875-1925 Reconstructing the History of Life The Age of the Earth Neo-Lamarckism Orthogenesis Neo-Darwinism Mendelism and the Mutation Theory 8. Evolution, Society, and Culture, 1875-1925 The Missing Link The Origins of Culture and Society Evolution and Race Social Evolutionism Biological Determinism Neo-Lamarckism and Society Evolution and Philosophy Evolution and Religion 9. The Evolutionary Synthesis Population Genetics The Modern Synthesis The Origin of Life Wider Implications of the Synthesis 10. Modern Debates and Developments The History of Life Human Origins Sociobiology and Ultra-Darwinism Opponents of Ultra-Darwinism Anti-Darwinians Darwinism not Scientific? Creationism Bibliography Index

Key concepts: Evolutionism, Darwinism, Creationism, Modern evolutionary synthesis, Enlightenment, Epistemology, Materialism, Philosophy

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