Evolution for the People
Shaping Popular Ideas from Darwin to the Present
Published on 28. November 2024
Book
Hardback
308 pages
978-1-009-44897-0 (ISBN)
Description
From Darwin's The Origin of Species to the twenty-first century, Peter Bowler reinterprets the long Darwinian Revolution by refocussing our attention on the British and American public. By applying recent historical interest in popular science to evolutionary ideas, he investigates how writers and broadcasters have presented both Darwinism and its discontents. Casting new light on how the theory's more radical aspects gradually grew in the public imagination, Evolution for the People extends existing studies of the popularization of evolutionism to give a more comprehensive picture of how attitudes have changed through time. In tracing changes in public perception, Bowler explores both the cultural impact and the cultural exploitation of these ideas in science, religion, social thought and literature.
Reviews / Votes
'Peter Bowler is today's most distinguished historian of evolutionary theory. Every time you think there can be no more to say, he guides us through the huge literature around evolutionary biology, as he produces yet another fascinating, well-written account of some hitherto-unexplored area of interest and importance. This time, in Evolution for the People, relating discussion to everyday issues of the present, Bowler sees how people like George Bernard Shaw and Julian Huxley explored the new vision of the past, particularly as found in Charles Darwin's Origin of Species. Very highly recommended.' Michael Ruse, University of Guelph 'A pacy historical panorama of evolutionary ideas that appeared in books intended for a broad non-specialist readership. Bowler is at his very best in covering three centuries of popular science, ranging from science fiction, images of apes and dinosaurs, to museum displays and radio broadcasts, and shows how Darwin's views - and the evolutionary views of many others - were perceived.' Janet Browne, Harvard University 'Focusing on popular science through an inspiring range of media over a long time, Bowler has brilliantly added an illuminating dimension to our understanding of the dynamic history of evolutionary theory. Evolution for the People is lively even as it is erudite. It is a joy to read. Highly recommended.' Constance Clark, Worcester Polytechnic InstituteMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
599 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-009-44897-0 (9781009448970)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
11/2024
Cambridge University Press
€37.80
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Peter J. Bowler is Professor Emeritus of the History of Science at Queen's University Belfast, a fellow of the British Academy, a member of the Royal Irish Academy and a past president of the British Society for the History of Science.
Content
1. Bridging the gap; 2. Before Darwin; 3. Reacting to the Origin; 4. Human ancestry; 5. Evolutionary epics; 6. Challenging Darwinism; 7. Reconfiguring the ascent of life; 8. Social evolutionism; 9. The evolutionary synthesis; 10. Toward the modern world.