Peter J. Bowler, "Evolution for the People: Shaping Popular Ideas from Darwin to the Present" (Cambridge UP, 2024)

Feb 9, 2025

Peter J. Bowler, Professor Emeritus of the History of Science at Queen's University Belfast, delves into the captivating journey of Darwin's ideas and their impact on public perception. He discusses how popular science reshaped the understanding of evolution, from linear models to complex trees. Controversies around Darwin's 'The Descent of Man' and the misuse of his theories in eugenics reveal the darker side of scientific interpretation. Bowler also connects cultural changes with evolving evolutionary theories, offering a compelling overview of the interplay between science and society.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

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Evolution and The Darwinian Revolution

01:30 • 10min

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Rethinking Evolution: From Ladders to Trees

11:15 • 9min

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Darwin's Descent: Controversies and Implications

20:32 • 11min

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Eugenics and Darwinism: A Complex History

31:41 • 6min

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Evolutionary Theory Evolution

37:58 • 9min

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Evolution for the People, Shaping Popular Ideas from Darwin to the Present

Peter J. Bowler

Peter J. Bowler's "Evolution for the People" offers a comprehensive exploration of how evolutionary ideas have been shaped and disseminated among the public. The book traces the evolution of popular understanding of Darwinism, from its initial reception to its modern interpretations. Bowler examines how writers and broadcasters have presented both Darwinism and its critiques, highlighting the cultural impact and exploitation of these ideas. He analyzes the interplay between scientific discoveries, religious beliefs, social thought, and literature in shaping public perception. The book provides valuable insights into the cultural history of science, religion, and social thought.

Vestiges of the natural history of creation

Robert Chambers

This book, published in 1844, presents a cosmic theory of transmutation, now known as evolution, explaining the development of the solar system, Earth, and life forms through natural law. It starts with the nebular hypothesis for the solar system's formation and proceeds through the origins of life, geology, and the progression of fossils from simple to complex organisms, culminating in human evolution. The book was highly controversial in its time, contradicting Victorian natural theology and preparing the public for later scientific theories of evolution by natural selection, such as those in Charles Darwin's 'On the Origin of Species'.

The Gorilla Hunters

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Volantyne

On the Origin of Species

Charles Darwin

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.

Progress Unchained

Peter J. Bowler

The selfish gene

Lalla Ward Richard Dawkins

Richard Dawkins

In 'The Selfish Gene', Richard Dawkins presents a gene-centred view of evolution, arguing that genes are the primary units of selection and that they behave selfishly to ensure their own replication. The book explains concepts such as kin selection, inclusive fitness, and the evolutionarily stable strategy, highlighting how these mechanisms can lead to altruistic behaviors in organisms. Dawkins emphasizes that the 'selfishness' of genes is a metaphorical concept, describing their evolutionary consequences rather than any intentional behavior. The book has been influential in shaping modern evolutionary thought and remains relevant today.

The descent of man

Charles Darwin

In 'The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex', Darwin extends his theory of evolution to humans, discussing how humans evolved from pre-existing forms and the role of sexual selection in this process. The book compares human physical and psychological characteristics to those of other animals, arguing that humans and other species share a common ancestry. It also explores the differences between human races and sexes, and the evolutionary basis of human behaviors and moral qualities. The work challenges the idea of special creation and argues for the continuity between humans and other animals in both anatomy and mental faculties.

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: Shaping Popular Ideas from Darwin to the Present (Cambridge UP, 2024) 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.

The first comprehensive study of popular evolutionism from the 1860s to the present day
Reassesses the impact of Darwinism on the wider public through the study of popular science
Provides insights beyond the study of popular science relevant to cultural history, the history of religion, and the history of social though

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.

Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Twitter.

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