Darwin Then and Now, the Most Amazing Story in the History of Science
With over 1,000 referenced quotations from Charles Darwin, scientists, science historians, and philosophers of science, Darwin Then and Now explores the intersection of what Darwin said and the scientific evidence gained over the past 150 years from the fossil record, molecular biology, embryology, and genetics.
About the Author
Written by Richard William Nelson and published by iUniverse, the book is a journey through one of the most remarkable stories in the history of science. It encapsulates who Darwin was, what he said, and what scientists have discovered since the publication of The Origin of Species in 1859.
The Book
Drawing on his own words from The Origin of Species, Autobiography, Voyage of the Beagle, and personal letters, Darwin Then and Now systematically explores Darwin’s private life and the development of his revolutionary approach to the origin of Earth’s biosphere.
The book explores Darwin’s emerging approach to understanding nature from the context of Greek and Enlightenment philosophies during the Scientific Revolution.
Setting the Stage
Darwin Then and Now contextualizes the development of one of the world’s most contentious books, The Origin of Species. While first published in 1859, Darwin made extensive revisions in six different editions over a period of twelve years.
Since then, modern scientists have continued to revise evolutionary concepts as new technologies and findings challenge Darwin’s theory of natural selection. Just before the publication of the first edition of The Origin of Species, Darwin conceded to a colleague –
“I am quite conscious that my speculations run quite beyond the bounds of true science.”
With more than 300 quotations from Darwin alone, Darwin Then and Now is an exposé on Darwin’s concepts of biological evolution.
The book chronicles how evidence from the fossil record, embryology, molecular biology, and genetics undermines Darwin’s theory of natural selection, as explained by more than 700 scientists.
Today, a cohesive, scientifically valid mechanism of evolution continues as elusive as Darwin’s infamous drawing – “I Think.”
Darwin Then and Now takes the reader on a provocative journey through the fascinating history of the world’s most contentious and revolutionary theories—the theory of evolution.
More
Darwin Then and Now is an educational resource on the intersection of evolution and science, highlighting the ongoing challenges to the theory of evolution.
Move On
Explore how to understand twenty-first-century concepts of evolution further using the following links –
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- The Understanding Evolution category showcases how varying historical study approaches to evolution have led to varying conclusions. Subcategories include –
- Studying Evolution explains how key evolution terms and concepts have changed since the 1958 publication of The Origin of Species.
- What is Science explains Charles Darwin’s approach to science and how modern science approaches can be applied for different investigative purposes.
- Evolution and Science feature study articles on how scientific evidence influences the current understanding of evolution.
- Theory and Consensus feature articles on the historical timelines of the theory, Natural Selection, and the importance of Investigating Evolution.
- The Biography of Charles Darwin category showcases relevant aspects of his life.
- The Glossary defines terms used in studying the theory of biological evolution.
- The Understanding Evolution category showcases how varying historical study approaches to evolution have led to varying conclusions. Subcategories include –
