Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff Part Two: Mutual Aid and Evolution: Peter Kropotkin and the Battle for Science
Oct 1, 2025
Katie Goldin, host of the podcast How Glaciers Move, dives into the life of anarchist prince Peter Kropotkin, exploring his revolutionary views on mutual aid and cooperation in nature. They discuss Kropotkin's adventurous 30,000-mile journeys through Siberia, where he challenged Darwin's theories on evolution and glaciers. Goldin highlights Kropotkin's insights linking climate change to human societies and emphasizes how modern science supports his notions of cooperation as a key evolutionary advantage. This conversation reveals Kropotkin's lasting influence on both science and social theory.
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Siberian Exploration And Discovery
- Peter Kropotkin wandered 30,000 miles across Siberia and Manchuria on foot and horseback while in his twenties.
- He documented geology and new natural features while living partly as a military officer and partly as an exploring scientist.
Glaciers Flow Like Thick Fluids
- Kropotkin argued glaciers move like a super-viscous fluid rather than rigid solids.
- This observation shifted understanding of glacial motion and informed later glaciology.
Early Climate Change Warnings
- Kropotkin studied glacial lakes and desiccation across Eurasia and linked receding glaciers to climate impacts on human society.
- He proposed reforestation and cross-border cooperation to check desertification in Central Asia.
