Episode 1 - The Phantom Red Menace

In this essay, Marx examines how the class struggle in France led to the circumstances that enabled Louis Bonaparte to seize power. He discusses the role of the individual in history, noting that 'Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they please; they do not make it under self-selected circumstances, but under circumstances existing already, given and transmitted from the past. ' The work is also significant for its insights into the nature and meaning of fascism, with Bonaparte's coup seen as a precursor to 20th-century fascist movements.

Published on November 24, 1859, 'On the Origin of Species' by Charles Darwin is a seminal work in scientific literature. The book presents a comprehensive theory of evolution, arguing that species evolve over generations through the process of natural selection. Darwin supported his theory with evidence collected during his voyage on the HMS Beagle, as well as from subsequent research, correspondence, and experimentation. The book addresses the struggle for existence, the variability of species, and the principle of divergence, explaining how natural selection leads to the adaptation and diversification of life on Earth. It has been a cornerstone of evolutionary biology and has had significant impacts on both scientific and public discourse.