Project Status: Completed

Project Goal: Book Publication / Website

Funded by: Fritz Thyssen Foundation

To mark the Darwin Year 2009, this research project—funded by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation—examines the 150-year history of the controversial debates surrounding the theory of evolution.

This project covers various areas in which the theory of evolution has had a lasting impact on the public. These include, among others, religion, the public image of scientists, eugenics, social Darwinism, various forms of popular culture, as well as biotechnology and genetic engineering—topics that vividly underscore the continued relevance of the theory of evolution.

The project began with the organization of an international conference in September 2009, at which approximately 40 scholars from various disciplines and fields discussed the public impact of the theory of evolution. Given that this is a topic that has been and continues to be debated by the general public, the conference was followed by two publication projects aimed specifically at this general audience.

The anthology *Streitfall Evolution: A Cultural History*, published in the fall of 2017, goes well beyond the scope of the conference in terms of content. In 40 chapters, authors from eleven countries provide insights into the current state of research on various aspects of evolutionary theory and its implications for popular culture. This scientifically grounded book is aimed at a broader readership and, with its seven thematic areas, covers all the essential implications of “evolution.” An English-language version is currently in preparation.

A bilingual website will soon address the topics covered in the volume, present them in an interactive format, and further develop the subject area for ongoing discussion.

Publication related to the project:

Angela Schwarz: Streifall Evolution. A Cultural History, Cologne, Vienna, Weimar 2017

When Charles Darwin published his theory of the evolution of species through natural selection in 1859, he already anticipated a major debate, though he did not foresee its far-reaching impact and enduring influence. Initially, the focus was on the implications for the sciences, belief in God, and moral concepts. Soon, considerations regarding society, politics, international relations, and interventions extending down to the level of the individual and their genetic material—their genes—were added to the mix. Social Darwinism, eugenics, and racism were at times regarded as scientifically legitimate fields of discussion and policy. Fears of a supposed decline can still be seemingly scientifically and objectively substantiated today in light of the biologization of thought. At present, the controversies are even more diverse, involve far more people than in the late 19th century, and have far more serious consequences. The authors, hailing from eleven countries, trace the facets of a fascinating debate—one that remains highly relevant to the present day—from diverse disciplinary perspectives and explore the future of the “evolution controversy.”

Link to a detailed description of the volume.

Link to the publisher’s website.