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For historians of science, the "Darwinian revolution" has always ranked alongside the "Copernican revolution" as an episode in which a new scientific theory symbolized a wholesale change in cultural values. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
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The progress of theories of evolution is seen in the context of developments in other areas of biology, and also other sciences such as palaeontology, geology and physics as well as broader cultural changes. Bowler suggest that even after the publishing of the Origin of Species, Darwinism did not become mainstream until after developments in heredity and genetics in the first part of the twentieth century, and is still generating controversy today.
Bowler describes the ongoing interplay between theories of evolution and philosophy, religion, politics, and how these factors influence the acceptance and promotion or otherwise of the various theories of evolution, and also how theories of evolution have been [mis-]used to support often contrary ideological positions.
I think that Bowler's account would also provide a good case study with which to evaluate competing philosophies of science.
The book is erudite, and dense. It presents complex and subtle ideas clearly, but is not light reading, requiring, at least from me, concentration and effort. However, it does pay off: I came to this book with a background in biology rather than history and think this book helped me to a deeper understanding of both.
Also, unlike many other texts on this subject, Bowler does not descend into triumphalist or other such ideologies that remove science from its own social context. In the words of the author, "Finally, we must look more closely at the problems the historian faces as he tries to chart the rise of scientific evolutionism. In particular, these problems arise from the normal view of science as an objective search for knowledge and the suspicions of many critics that scientific theories are themselves value-laden contributions to philosophical and ideological debates" (Bowler, pg.4). He does an excellent job of explaining not only the theories and their evidence but does so by relating them to their own social and historical context. His analysis is also distinguished from many of its predescessors (and descendents, unfortunately) by its breadth and scope. Bowler does not confine his study to the merely biological, but begins at the beginning with geology and early modern ideas of nature and change, or more appropriately, the lack thereof. Furthermore, he brings the reader up to the date of publication with a healthy discussion of the current debates, which once again stresses the idea of "evolution" as an "evolving" concept.
Thus, this book is for the novice, whether intially hostile to the concept of common descent through natural selection or not, who wants a comprehensive and scholarly introduction to the material. Note that this is a history text, however, and not science. This book is also for the biologist who finds herself caught in the throes of "biology as ideology," and wishes to read a scholarly text testing science's absolute claim to truth.
Throughout the book, it seems like philosophers (at least in the West) desired a purpose and direction of evolution, if not a Director. Lamarckianism (inheritance of acquired characteristics) also seemed to have continual appeal and in the later editions of the Origin of Species, Darwin himself was leaning more that way. The continual difficulty of direct evidence and incomplete fossil record, leads to ongoing speculations.
Although generally dry/scholarly there are a few fun side-diversions, such as Kammerer's midwife toad. Bowler also highlights other key figures such as paleontologist Georges Cuvier and "Darwin's bulldog" Thomas Huxley. I would have like more history of how the general public accepted the idea, perhaps by tracing the teaching in schools or textbooks. Readers of this might also enjoy Dawkins "The Blind Watchmaker".
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