Evolution : The History Of An Idea, Third Edition, Completely Revised And Expanded - 3rd edition

Bowler, Peter J. : Queen's University

Peter J. Bowler is Reader in the History of Science at Queen's University, Belfast, and is well known on both sides of the Atlantic for his books on the history of evolutionism.

"This rich and energetic survey of the history of evolutionary thought. . . merits a wide use among history of science students, biologists, and historians. Bowler is to be congratulated for his achievement."

--Richard Burkhardt, Jr., Journal of the History of Medicine

"Combines skilled historical research with superior writing. . . synthesiz[ing] the complex, often emotion-filled strands of evolutionary theory into a noteworthy, updated whole without 'talking down' or using sensationalism."

--Benjamin J. Novak, Science Teacher

"Clarity of purpose and powers of organization shine forth from every page."

--Roy S. Porter, Times Literary Supplement

University of California Press Web Site, May, 2003

List of Illustrations
Preface to the Third Edition
Preface to the First Edition

1. The Idea of Evolution: Its Scope and Implications
The Old Worldview and the New
The Possibilities of Change
The Nature of Science
The Historian's Problems

2. The Pre-evolutionary Worldview
Human History
Theories of the Earth
The Meaning of Fossils
Natural Theology
The New Natural History
The Problem of Generation

3. Evolution in the Enlightenment
Human Nature
The Origin of Society
The History of the Earth
The Chain of Being
The New Classification
The New Theories of Generation
The Materialists
The First Transmutationists

4. Nature and Society, 1800-1859
The Invention of Progress
The Framework of Science
Georges Cuvier: Fossils and the History of Life
Catastrophism and Natural Theology in Britain
The Philosophical Naturalists
Radical Science
The Principle of Uniformity
The Vestiges of Creation

5. The Development of Darwin's Theory
Darwin's Early Career
The Crucial Years: 1836-1839
Development of the Theory, 1840-1859
Wallace and Publication of the Theory
6. The Reception of Darwin's Theory
The Foundations of Darwinism
The Scientific Debate
Darwinism and Design
Human Origins
Evolution and Progress

7. The Eclipse of Darwinism: Scientific Evolutionism, 1875-1925
Reconstructing the History of Life
The Age of the Earth
Neo-Lamarckism
Orthogenesis
Neo-Darwinism
Mendelism and the Mutation Theory

8. Evolution, Society, and Culture, 1875-1925
The Missing Link
The Origins of Culture and Society
Evolution and Race
Social Evolutionism
Biological Determinism
Neo-Lamarckism and Society
Evolution and Philosophy
Evolution and Religion

9. The Evolutionary Synthesis
Population Genetics
The Modern Synthesis
The Origin of Life
Wider Implications of the Synthesis

10. Modern Debates and Developments
The History of Life
Human Origins
Sociobiology and Ultra-Darwinism
Opponents of Ultra-Darwinism
Anti-Darwinians
Darwinism not Scientific?
Creationism

Bibliography
Index