Ideology and Evolution in Nineteenth Century Britain: Embryos, Monsters, and Racial and Gendered Others in the Making of Evolutionary Theory and Culture

A collection of detailed contextual studies by a leading historian of science examines how cultural values, political and professional considerations, and gender, race, and sexuality influenced the construction, acceptance, and applications of nineteenth-century evolutionary theory.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 356 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

These meticulously researched contextual studies, spanning several decades and compiled for the first time, delve into the intricate interplay between cultural values, political and professional considerations, and the development, acceptance, and applications of nineteenth-century evolutionary theory. Conducted by a renowned historian of science, these comprehensive analyses explore a wide range of factors that influenced the construction, reception, and practical applications of evolutionary ideas during this pivotal period. Within these studies, several interconnected analyses are presented, shedding light on the politicized roles of embryos and monsters in pre- and post-Darwinian evolutionary theorizing. These include in-depth examinations of Darwin's theory of sexual selection, which pioneers a contextual analysis of this influential concept. Additionally, the studies explore the intersections of Darwinian science and its practitioners with issues of gender, race, and sexuality, offering pioneering insights into these complex topics. Furthermore, the texts delve into the responses to Darwinian science by notable Victorian women intellectuals, encompassing a diverse range of perspectives. These include the pioneering anti-feminist and ardent Darwinian Eliza Lynn Linton, the feminist and prominent anti-vivisectionist Frances Power Cobbe, and the bible-bashing, birth-control advocate Annie Besant, who actively confronted Darwin's opposition to contraception during the notorious Knowlton Trial. Through these detailed examinations, the reader gains a profound understanding of the multifaceted influences that shaped the development of nineteenth-century evolutionary theory, as well as the complex interplay between culture, politics, and science in this historical context.

Weight: 660g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367501822