Comments on: Darwin in Four Minutes

By: Michael Robinson

Michael Robinson — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:57:00 +0000

Thanks for the links to Tremaux. Even if Tremaux’s work influenced Darwin’s third edition of Origin (which I don’t know well enough to confirm one way or another), I don’t think it changes the way we view the impact of Darwin’s theory of natural selection (which was already apparent by 1865, six years after the first publication of Origin). Perhaps the bigger story here, as the Wilkins article suggests, is Tremaux’s possible influence on S. J. Gould’s theory of punctuated equilibrium a century later, an interesting proposition!

By: John

John — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:15:56 +0000

Darwin plagiarizes to Pierre Tremaux?

I leave you the link to scientific paper that it affirms that to the idea of allopatric speciation borrow of a book of Pierre Tremaux.

Trémaux on species: A theory of allopatric speciation (and punctuated equilibrium) before Wagner

http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/archive/00003806/

Tremaux’s Book: Origine et transformations de l’homme et des autres êtres, 1865″ http://fon.gs/tremaux-book-google/

By: dave s

dave s — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 10:10:20 +0000

The trouble with the “buzz of London” statement is that it’s too parochial – just think about how quickly pirate editions of the Origin were published in the US. The other thing that needs debunked is the idea that he was only known for evolution. Here’s a suggestion for reworking the start of that paragraph –

“Darwin was already eminent as a geologist and author of the travel book “The Voyage of the Beagle” before he revealed his support for transformism. However he did not gain international fame because he supported transformism. Rather, he brought to the defense of transformism a stunning, almost overwhelming, body of evidence….”

I thought of making it “he did not become an international superstar” because that’s closer to the mark, but rather anachronistic. As for inheritance of acquired characteristics, commonly misnamed “Lamarckism”, this was something Darwin believed from the outset and never let go, but as you say emphasised it more because it gave a counter argument to the idea that inherited characteristics would blend back to an original rather than varying to the extent of speciation. If only he’d read that paper by Mendel! So, rather than saying “Later editions of Origin of Species left the door open..” it should really be “All editions of Origin of Species left the door open…”

By: Michael Robinson

Michael Robinson — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:33:41 +0000

Dave,

Thanks for the comments. I don’t want to quibble “buzz.” You’re right about Darwin’s prior reputation, but wouldn’t you admit that his work on evolution vaulted him to a new level of celebrity? CD acknowledged inheritance of acquired characteristics in the first ed of Origin, but gave it greater heft in later editions. Quite right about Gray, good point.

By: dave s

dave s — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:07:12 +0000

Nice summary, but Darwin’s main reputation rested on different grounds. He became the buzz of London long before he supported transformism – firstly because of the extremely rare fossils he sent home, then because of the geological notes from his letters home whch Henslow printed and distributed, showing his inventive speculation about the movement of land and the formation of coral atolls. He already had a reputation as a first rank geologist and collector when he arrived home from the Beagle voyage, and his reputation spread beyond the scientific elite with the publication of his popular Journal and Remarks – nowadays usually known as The Voyage of the Beagle.

While many chose to believe in a theistic or “teleological” version of evolution which accepted Darwin’s evidence for evolution but rejected the mechanism he thought lay behind it, many others believed in a theistic or “teleological” version of evolution which accepted natural selection, with Darwin’s enthusiastic support – see Asa Gray’s writings at http://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/content/view/110/104/

Also, it’s wrong to suggest that it was just later editions of Origin of Species that left the door open for other mechanisms, notably inheritance of acquired characteristics – see the section which starts on page 134 of the first edition with “Effects of Use and Disuse.—From the facts alluded to in the first chapter, I think there can be little doubt that use in our domestic animals strengthens and enlarges certain parts, and disuse diminishes them; and that such modifications are inherited….”

By: Michael Robinson

Michael Robinson — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:09:41 +0000

Good point about the booksellers, Michael. I didn’t know that. I’ll be interested to see what you find out about Darby when you’re finished with your research. Perhaps you could offer a synopsis of it on Dispersal of Darwin.

By: darwinsbulldog

darwinsbulldog — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:00:22 +0000

Hi Michael:

A very consice, quick portrayal of Darwin, showing how the popular conception of him is sometimes wrong (for example, that natural selection was accepted immediately). Do note, however, that “On the Origin of Species” sold out in one day to the book trade (booksellers). How fast it sold to individual buyers, I am not sure.

I do like your comparison of Kansas school boards to Braveheart-ish armies. I am starting a research paper for a public history course, on the creation-evolution issue as it happened in a small Montana town (Darby) in 2004, exploring how the history of the issue may shed light on current events, and – here’s the tricky part – how the issue could be resolved.