Product Description

Since its original publication in 1989, "Evolution: The History of an Idea" has been recognized as a comprehensive and authoritative source on the development and impact of this most controversial of scientific theories. This twentieth anniversary edition is updated with a new preface examining recent scholarship and trends within the study of evolution.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #316355 in Books
• Published on: 2009-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 496 pages

About the Author
Peter J. Bowler is Reader in the History of Science at Queen's University, Belfast, and is well known on both sides of the Atlantic for his books on the history of evolutionism.

Customer Reviews

Deepens your understanding of evolution, science, society and history.
This book exams the history and development of theories of evolution from pre-enlightenment to the present day. Natural selection, orthogenesis and Lamarckism all play prominent roles, which have waxed and waned in popularity throughout this time.

The progress of theories of evolution is seen in the context of developments in other areas of biology, and also other sciences such as palaeontology, geology and physics as well as broader cultural changes. Bowler suggest that even after the publishing of the Origin of Species, Darwinism did not become mainstream until after developments in heredity and genetics in the first part of the twentieth century, and is still generating controversy today.

Bowler describes the ongoing interplay between theories of evolution and philosophy, religion, politics, and how these factors influence the acceptance and promotion or otherwise of the various theories of evolution, and also how theories of evolution have been [mis-]used to support often contrary ideological positions.

I think that Bowler's account would also provide a good case study with which to evaluate competing philosophies of science.

The book is erudite, and dense. It presents complex and subtle ideas clearly, but is not light reading, requiring, at least from me, concentration and effort. However, it does pay off: I came to this book with a background in biology rather than history and think this book helped me to a deeper understanding of both.

methodical and comprehensive
Bothered at today's frequent glib dismissals of evolution? Read this and get informed. You may be curious and scientifically minded, or religious and uneasy with the sermons that seem to set up easy targets before shooting them down. The main thing is, you want more. Find out how evolution links with palaeontology, geology, zoology and the taxonomy of species, as well as how evolution is the result of hundreds of years work, and how it has survived and benefited from the relationship with hostile religion. This book is slow but steady, and never takes the reader's views for granted. This is the sort of book everybody should read.