Darwin's Love of Life: A Singular Case of Biophilia

Biophilia is the love of life, and this book explores Charles Darwin's life and thought through this lens. It argues that Darwin's love of life enabled him to see evolutionary truths that others had missed, and that his marriage to Emma Wedgwood, his first cousin, was a reflection of his shared love of life. The book offers a different view of Darwin, one that is full of love, joy, awe, humility, curiosity, and a zest for living.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 25 October 2022
Publisher: Columbia University Press

Biophilia, a profound affection for life, encompasses the innate desire to survive, a profound connection with all living beings, and an inherent appreciation for beauty. In this unconventional book, Kay Harel employs biophilia as a unique lens to delve into the life and thought of Charles Darwin in remarkably original ways. Through a series of interconnected essays, she explores how the love of life enabled Darwin to perceive evolutionary truths that were previously unseen.

Harel meticulously traces the influence of biophilia on Darwin's perspectives on dogs, facts, thought, emotion, and beauty, drawing upon little-known material from his private notebooks. She compellingly argues that much of what Darwin described, envisioned, and experienced was a manifestation of biophilia in action. The book concludes with a profile of Darwin's marriage to Emma Wedgwood, his first cousin, a woman renowned for her musical talents and medical expertise who shared her husband's deep love for life.

Harel's meditative, playful, and lyrical musings draw upon a diverse range of disciplines, including aesthetics, astronomy, biology, evolutionary theory, history of science, philosophy, psychiatry, and more. While drawing from various academic fields, her writings remain unconstrained by any particular discipline, allowing her to take unexpected paths in reimagining a figure widely regarded as familiar. This book offers readers a fresh and transformative perspective on Darwin, presenting him as a man filled with love, joy, awe, humility, curiosity, and an unwavering zest for life.

Weight: 396g
Dimension: 146 x 226 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231208086