Understanding Evolution in Darwin's 'Origin' : The Emerging Context of Evolutionary Thinking

This book aims to encourage the reading of "On the Origin of Species" and to include it in the teaching of evolution. With a comprehensive overview of the development of Darwin's theory, the volume provides relevant aspects of Darwin's life and work in connection with the broader context of his time. The historical and philosophical analysis, mirrored in the socio-cultural scope, enables the diachronic reading of the text. It is built on various sources of historians and philosophers of science and sheds fresh light on them. Its uniqueness is the broad structure that covers four parts: the pre-Darwinian concepts of species changes; some key elements of Darwin's pursuit of the causes of evolution, from his voyage on Beagle to the publication of his groundbreaking work; chapter-by-chapter analysis of the "Origin"; and subsequent developments in evolutionary thought. This book is of interest to undergraduate and graduate students, scholars in history, philosophy, and sociology of science and science education, as well as the general public. Foreword: From Biology to Darwin Acknowledgments Contents Chapter 1: Introduction: Why Read the ``Origin of Species ́ ́? 1.1 Darwin ́s Own Theory 1.2 Primary Sources of the History of Science in Science Education 1.3 Significance of the First Edition 1.4 The Two Core Ideas of Evolution 1.5 The Written Style and Argumentation 1.6 How Science Works 1.7 Darwin ́s Epistemic Assumptions and Methods 1.8 Structure of the Volume References Part I: Transformation of Species, from the Beginning Chapter 2: Debates About Life ́s Origin and Adaptive Powers in the Early Nineteenth Century 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Systems of Nature and Theories of Life 2.3 The Abbot and the Jesuit 2.4 Organic Molecules, Matter, and the Origin of Species 2.5 Theories of the Earth and the Limits of Species Change 2.6 Encyclopedias and Dictionaries 2.7 To Darwin ́s Doorsteps 2.8 Conclusion References Chapter 3: The Darwinian Not Too Strictly Balanced Arrangement Between Cuvier and Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Cuvier and the Principle of the Conditions of Existence 3.3 Geoffroy and the Unity of Type 3.4 Conditions of Existence vs. Unity of Type 3.5 An Evolutionist Arrangement Between Cuvier and Geoffroy 3.6 Darwin ́s Tactful Materialism References Chapter 4: An Amazing Journey: Darwin and the Fuegians 4.1 Introduction 4.2 The Adventure and Beagle Expeditions 4.3 Four Fuegians on Their Way to London 4.4 Observations About the Fuegians 4.5 Scientific Description of the Fuegians 4.6 In England 4.7 Coming Home 4.8 Last Encounter with Jemmy 4.9 After the Beagle 4.10 Woollya Massacre 4.11 History Review 4.12 Jemmy, a Man from Nowhere 4.13 The Journey in History References Part II: Constructing a Theory Chapter 5: Darwin ́s First Writings: From the Beagle Voyage to His Transmutation Notebooks (1837-1839) and Essay (1844) References Chapter 6: The Development of Darwin ́s Theory: From Natural Theology to Natural Selection 6.1 Introduction 6.2 A Note on Conceptual Change 6.3 Beginnings 6.4 Becoming an Evolutionist 6.5 Conclusion References Chapter 7: ``Great as Immensity, Deep as Eternity ́ ́: What Could the Grandeur of Life Say About God ́s Existence, According to D... 7.1 What Does the Diversity of Life Tell Us About God? 7.2 Mr. Vestiges ́ Account of Creation 7.3 Darwin ́s Religious Views: His Autobiography 7.4 A Direct Discussion with a Proponent of Design: Asa Gray 7.5 What Darwin Said to Others: The Importance of His Letters on the Subject 7.6 Conclusions References Chapter 8: Mr. Darwin ́s Beloved Barnacles: Using Cirripedes to Understand Evolution in ``Origin of Species ́ ́ 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Mr. Arthrobalanus 8.3 The Cirripede Monographs, 1851 and 1854 8.3.1 The Evolution of Sex 8.4 Understanding Origin of Species Through the Cirripedes 8.4.1 The ``Meaning ́ ́ of Intercrossing 8.4.2 Laws of Variation References Chapter 9: Wallace, Darwin, and the Relationship Between Species and Varieties (1858) 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Darwin ́s Views 9.3 Wallace ́s Views 9.4 Wallace ́s and Darwin ́s Agreements and Disagreements 9.5 Final Remarks References Chapter 10: There Have Been Few Such Naturalists Before, but Still: Darwin ́s Public Account of Predecessors 10.1 Introduction 10.2 A Model of Active Reading 10.2.1 Part 1: Codification and Categorization 10.2.2 Part 2: Flowchart 10.3 Discussion 10.3.1 Dichotomous Reasoning 10.3.2 Historical Backgrounds and Sources 10.4 Final Comments References Chapter 11: You Too Can Find ``Grandeur in This View of Life ́ ́: A Linguistic Remedy for Resisting the Desire to Abandon Darwin... 11.1 The Origin: Something More than a Treatise on Evolutionary Biology 11.2 A Map of Darwin ́s Awe for Nature 11.3 In Search of Nature ́s Grandeur Using the Map of Darwin ́s Awe 11.3.1 On the Origin of Darwin ́s Two Languages: Scientific-Technical and Aesthetic-Emotional 11.3.2 The Passing of Time, or the Sublime in Darwin: The Hidden Beauty of Rocks 11.3.3 Knowledge, or the Key to Finding Nature ́s Grandeur: Darwin ́s Entangled Banks 11.4 There ́s More Awe Still to Find in the Origin: Further Perspectives of Research References Part III: Spreading the New Theory to the World Chapter 12: Origin ́s Chapter I: How Breeders Work Their Magic 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Inheritable Variation Among Domesticated Animals and Plants 12.2.1 Domesticated Animals and Plants Are Amazingly Variable Due to the Effects of Several Causes 12.2.1.1 Causes of Variability (Darwin, 1859, pp. 7-11) 12.2.1.2 Effects of Habit (Darwin, 1859, pp. 11) 12.2.1.3 Correlation of Growth (Darwin, 1859, pp. 11-12) 12.2.2 Some Associated Topics: Inheritance; Domesticated Varieties as Reverting Back to the Forms of Their Wild Progenitors; t... 12.2.2.1 Inheritance (Darwin, 1859, pp. 12-14) 12.2.2.2 Character of Domestic Varieties [with a Preview of Natural Selection] (Darwin, 1859, pp. 14-15) 12.2.2.3 Difficulty of Distinguishing Between Varieties and Species (Darwin, 1859, pp. 15-16) 12.2.3 Wild Progenitor Species and Their Domesticated Descendants 12.2.3.1 Origin of Domestic Varieties from One or More Species (Darwin, 1859, pp. 16-20) 12.2.3.2 Domestic Pigeons, Their Differences and Origin [with a Preview of the Tree of Life] (Darwin, 1859, pp. 20-29) 12.3 Selection by Human Breeders 12.3.1 Principle of Selection Anciently Followed and its Effects (Darwin, 1859, pp. 29-33) 12.3.2 Methodical and Unconscious Selection (pp. 33-7) 12.3.3 Unknown Origin of Our Domestic Productions (pp. 37-40) 12.3.4 Circumstances Favorable to Man ́s Power of Selection (pp. 40-43) 12.4 Conclusion References Chapter 13: Origin ́s Chapter II: Darwin ́s Ideas on Variation Under the Lens of Current Evolutionary Genetics 13.1 A Quick, Contemporaneous View 13.2 Variability: Variation, Selection, and Evolution 13.3 Individual Differences: The Link Between Artificial and Natural Selection 13.4 Doubtful Species: Defining Species from Varieties; Polymorphisms Then and Now 13.5 Inheritance (Pangenesis Views) 13.6 Variation and Sexual Selection 13.7 Regression Towards the Mean and Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics 13.8 ``Wide Ranging, Much Diffused, and Common Species Vary Most ́ ́ 13.9 ``Species of the Larger Genera in Any Country Vary More Than Species of the Smaller Genera ́ ́ References Chapter 14: Origin ́s Chapter III: The Two Faces of Natural Selection References Chapter 15: Origin ́s Chapter IV: The Newton of the Blade of Grass 15.1 Introduction 15.2 Natural Selection 15.3 Sexual Selection 15.4 Selection at Work 15.5 Division of Labor 15.6 The Tree of Life 15.7 Conclusion References Chapter 16: Origin ́s Chapter V: How ``Random ́ ́ Is Evolutionary Change? 16.1 Introduction 16.2 Effects of External Conditions 16.3 Effects of Use and Disuse 16.4 Acclimatization 16.5 Correlation of Growth 16.6 Compensation and Economy of Growth 16.7 Other Patterns of Variation 16.8 Summary References Chapter 17: Origin ́s Chapter VI: The Initial Difficulties of Darwin ́s Theory 17.1 Introduction 17.2 The Main Difficulties 17.3 Absence or Rarity of Transitional Forms 17.4 On the Origin and Transitions of Organic Beings with Peculiar Habits and Structure 17.5 Organs of Extreme Perfection and Complication 17.6 Organs of Little Apparent Importance 17.7 Final Comments References Chapter 18: Origin ́s Chapter VII. Darwin and the Instinct: Why Study Collective Behaviors Performed Without Knowledge of Their... 18.1 Introduction 18.2 ``Natural ́ ́ Behaviors and ``Natural ́ ́ Government 18.3 The Intelligent Agent and Natural Theology 18.4 The Creator ́s Benevolence in His Works 18.5 Vigilant Natural Government or a Great General Law? 18.6 The Great General Law, the Nobility of the Divinity, and the Classroom References Chapter 19: Origin ́s Chapter VIII: Darwin for and Against Hybridism 19.1 The Place of Chapter VIII within the Context of the Origin 19.2 The Place of Chapter VIII in the Context of Hybridism 19.3 Darwin ́s Argumentation in Chapter VIII, ``on Hybridism ́ ́ References Chapter 20: Origin ́s Chapter IX and X: From Old Objections to Novel Explanations: Darwin on the Fossil Record 20.1 Introduction 20.2 Darwin ́s Geological Sources and Context 20.3 Taming the Fossil-Record Objection 20.4 Geology in Evolution ́s Service 20.5 Geology and the Argument of the Origin References Chapter 21: Origin ́s Chapter XI and XII: ``Seed! Seed! Seed! ́ ́: Geographical Distribution in on the Origin of Species 21.1 Introduction 21.2 Migration, Modification, and Multiplication 21.3 Seed Time 21.4 The Context: Darwin, Gray, Agassiz, and Seed Dispersal 21.5 Conclusion: Back to the Seed References Chapter 22: Origin ́s Chapter XIII. The Meaning of Classification, Morphology, Embryology, and Rudimentary Organs to the Theory... References Chapter 23: Origins ́ Chapter XIV: The Good Old Habit of Summarizing 23.1 Introduction 23.2 On the Writing of Chapter XIV: Darwin ́s Expectation Regarding the Reception of the Book 23.3 On the Reading of Chapter XIV: Analyzing Its Structure 23.3.1 The Main Difficulties of the Theory 23.3.1.1 Complex Organs and Instincts 23.3.1.2 Fertility and Sterility Among Species and Varieties 23.3.1.3 Geographical Distribution and Intermediate Forms 23.3.2 The Advantages of the Theory 23.3.3 Causes of the General Belief in the Immutability of Species 23.3.4 The Conclusion of the ``Recapitulation and Conclusion ́ ́ 23.4 On the Teaching with Origin ́s Chapter XIV: Aspects of Nature of Science (NOS) 23.5 Final Thoughts: One Long Argument? References Part IV: Epilogue: What Came Next Was Extraordinary Chapter 24: Continuities and Ruptures: Comparing Darwin ́s ``On the Origin of Species ́ ́ and the Modern Synthesis 24.1 Introduction 24.2 Some of Darwin ́s Influences 24.3 Darwin ́s Proposal 24.4 The Modern Synthesis 24.5 Ruptures and Continuities 24.6 Conclusion References Chapter 25: From the Modern Synthesis to the Other (Extended, Super, Postmodern) Syntheses 25.1 Introduction 25.2 The MS as the Second Synthesis 25.3 Key Aspects of the MS 25.4 Key Aspects of the MS 25.5 Four Challenges to the MS 25.5.1 Neutralism 25.5.2 Punctuated Equilibria 25.5.3 Evo-Devo 25.5.4 Evo-Eco 25.6 Conceptual Challenges to the MS 25.7 ``Extended, ́ ́ ``Postmodern ́ ́ or ``Super ́ ́ Syntheses: Does the MS Need ``Softening ́ ́? 25.8 Conclusion References Author Index Subject Index