Evolutionary Theory & Victorian Culture (Control of Nature) - Softcover

Fichman, Martin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1591020034 ISBN 13: 9781591020035

Publisher: Humanity Books, 2002

Synopsis

This absorbing study of the Victorian controversies over the cultural meaning of evolution broadens our perspective by discussing the roles played by prominent individuals besides Charles Darwin, notably Alfred Russel Wallace, Herbert Spencer, and Thomas Henry Huxley.

Fichman traces the emergence of science as a definitive political and cultural force in this critical period, showing that evolutionary biology was at the epicenter of these profound sociocultural transformations. His astute analysis of the often vehement Victorian debates on the political, religious, racial, and ethical implications of evolutionary thought reveals how science came to be inseparable from the broader culture. He also relates 19th-century controversies to cultural debates in the 20th century, in particular the notorious Scopes trial (1925) and the later, and ongoing, debate about "scientific creationism." For all those fascinated, and perplexed, by the impact of evolutionary theory on our worldview, and the increasingly close ties between science and Western culture, Fichman's historical perspective lends much clarity and context to current controversies.

About this title

About the Author:

Martin Fichman is professor of Humanities and History at York University and the author of Science, Technology and Society and Alfred Russel Wallace: A Biography.

Review:

."" . . documentation is good, and some insights will likely be new, as will the British perspective on both Victorian times and current American problems . . . for all humanists, scientists, and people of faith . . . Recommended."

About this edition

• Publisher: Humanity Books
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 1591020034
• ISBN 13: 9781591020035
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256