HIST 328, Section 02: Darwinism Spring 1995

David K. Robinson
Division of Social Science
Truman State University
e-mail: drobinso@truman.edu


Darwinism

This course begins with an examination of the origins of Darwinian evolution, not only in scientific thought, but also in the cultural milieu of nineteenth-century Britain and the European continent. Then we turn to the reception of Darwinian ideas, particularly in the United States, not only by the scientific communities but also by the broader public, where writers transformed biological ideas into social interpretations of modern industrial and geo-political developments. Students will have some opportunity to explore various aspects of Darwinian and anti-Darwinian thought, in several western cultures and up to the present day. For history majors the course counts as either European history or American history, at the discretion of the student and advisor.

Readings

Peter J. Bowler, Evolution: The History of an Idea (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1984)

Duncan M. Porter and Peter W. Graham, eds., The Portable Darwin (New York: Penguin, 1993)

Richard Hofstadter, Social Darwinism in American Thought (New York: Beacon Press, 1959)

Stephen Jay Gould, Bully for Brontosaurus: Reflections in Natural History (New York: Norton, 1991)


Assignments

Three essays are required. The first two papers should be five to eight double-spaced pages each. The first essay (20% of overall grade) should be an explication of Darwin's writing, and the second (25%) should be on some aspect of Hofstadter's book; the third essay (10-15 pages, worth 35%) should concentrate on some issue from Gould's book, supplemented by some outside reading. Participation (20%) is based on general performance and on two presentations: a panel presentation of class readings and a short individual presentation of the final paper project.




Study and Research Aids


Background Reading: Those who seek further background in history of life sciences might consult these books, of which the first two are available in paperback:


William Coleman, Biology in the Nineteenth Century

Garland Allen, Life Science in the Twentieth Century

Erik Nordenskiold, The History of Biology



Reference Works:

Dictionary of Scientific Biography

History of the Life Sciences: An Annotated Bibliography, ed. Pieter Smit

Current Work in the History of Medicine

Isis Cumulative Bibliography 1913-1965

Isis Cumulative Bibliography 1965-1975

Isis Critical Bibliography, annual



Journals:

Bulletin of the History of Medicine

History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences

Isis

Journal of the History of Biology

Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences

Studies in History of Biology








Schedule
HIST328-02, Spring 1995 Robinson


Darwinism

Jan. 10: Introduction to theme


Jan. 12: Reading and preparation


Jan. 17: Bowler, beginning to 89


Jan. 19: Bowler, 90-150; Darwin, 486-498


Jan. 24: Bowler, 151-186


Jan. 26: Darwin, beginning to 104


Jan. 31: Darwin, 105-215


Feb. 2: Bowler, 187-217; Darwin, 253-320, 424-452


Feb. 7: Bowler, 218-245;
Darwin, 321-393, 453-457, 475-485, 517 to end


Feb. 9: Bowler, 246-306


Feb. 14: Bowler, 307 to end


Feb. 16: Film and discussion


Feb. 21: FIRST PAPER DUE


Feb. 23: Hofstadter, beginning to 84


Feb. 28: Hofstadter, 85-142


Mar. 2: INDIVIDUAL CONFERENCES

HIST-328-02 schedule, page 2


Mar. 6-10: Spring break


Mar. 14: Hofstadter, 143 to end


Mar. 16: Gould, beginning to 106


Mar. 21: Gould, 107-198


Mar. 23: Gould, 199-252, 307-353


Mar. 28: SECOND PAPER DUE: deadline for approval for
topic of third paper


Mar. 30: Gould, 383-460; organize panels


Apr. 4: INDIVIDUAL CONFERENCES


Apr. 6: INDIVIDUAL CONFERENCES


Apr. 11: INDIVIDUAL CONFERENCES


Apr. 13: Panel Presentations


Apr. 18: Panel Presentations


Apr. 20: Panel Presentations


Apr. 25: Panel Presentations


Apr. 27: THIRD PAPER DUE
Review, course evaluation


May 5: Thursday, slot for final examination, 9:30-11:20;
Return and discuss graded work, instructor's office