The Evolution Controversy: A Cultural History
Edited by Angela Schwarz, Cologne/Vienna/Weimar, Böhlau Verlag, 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 his or her genetic material—the 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.”
Published on October 16, 2017, Böhlau Verlag, Cologne/Vienna/Weimar, ISBN 978-3-412-50714-5, 50.00 euros
Link to the publisher’s website.
Information about the book’s content
Section 1
The Early Evolution of Humans:
Scientific Debate and Popular Accounts (1859–1900)
Section 2
Evolution and Religion:
A Never-Ending Debate?
Section 3
(Natural) Scientists in the Public Eye
Section 4
From Darwinism to Social Darwinism
Section 5
Eugenics in Europe and North America:
Definitions of the Ideal Human: Between Fiction and Reality
Section 6
The Debate in the Age of the Genome:
Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering, and Humans as Creators
Section 7
Evolution in the Public Sphere:
The Present and Future of the Debate
Interview with the Editor
Andreas Fasel: “Evolution Cannot Be Denied,” in: Die Welt, Section: Regional, Subsection: North Rhine-Westphalia, Oct. 1, 2017, URL: https://www.welt.de/regionales/nrw/article169172035/Die-Evolution-laesst-sich-nicht-leugnen.html
Media coverage of the book
Harald Ries: “The theory of evolution has more opponents today than in Darwin’s time,” in: Westfalenpost, Section: Region, Subsection: Sauerland and Siegerland, October 16, 2017, URL: https://www.wp.de/region/sauer-und-siegerland/evolutionstheorie-hat-heute-mehr-gegner-als-zu-darwins-zeit-id212241381.html
Reviews
Helmut Mayer: The Rise of a Superstar. From Darwin’s Early Hypotheses to Biotechnology: An Anthology Explores Evolution Through a Cultural-Historical Lens, in: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, No. 274, November 25, 2017, p. L 10
Detlev Mares: Review of: Angela Schwarz (ed.): The Controversy Over Evolution. A Cultural History. 788 pp., Böhlau-Verlag, Cologne 2017, €50, in: Das Historisch-Politische Buch, Vol. 66, No. 2, 2018, pp. 292–293
Wolfgang Jähnig: Book Review. Angela Schwarz (2017, ed.): “The Evolution Controversy: A Cultural History.” Böhlau-Verlag, Cologne. ISBN: 978-3412507145. Price: 50,- €, in: AG Evo-Bio – Evolution in Biology, Culture, and Society, Jan. 10, 2018, URL: http://ag-evolutionsbiologie.net/html/2018/streitfall-evolution.html
Till Kinzel: The Evolution Controversy: A Cultural History / Angela Schwarz (ed.). - Cologne [et al.]: Böhlau, 2017. - 788 pp. : ill. ; 28 cm. - ISBN 978-3-412-50714-5 : EUR 50.00 [#5699], in: Informationsmittel (IFB). Digital Review Journal for Libraries and Science, Vol. 27, No. 1, 2019, URL: http://informationsmittel-fuer-bibliotheken.de/showfile.php?id=9485, no page number.