The book explores the order and balance of nature from the late 17th century to the early 20th century, covering natural theology, Darwinism, and social Darwinism. It highlights the interplay of scientific, philosophical, moral, and social ideas and provides a wealth of quotations to see the original statements on which the author bases his discussion. The book ends with general reflections on Darwin and Darwinisms as a case study on the relationship between intellectual history, the history of science, and contextual history.

Format: Hardback
Length: 616 pages
Publication date: 07 October 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

The book explores ideas about the order and balance of nature from the late 17th century to the early 20th century, taking a broad, longue durée, and interdisciplinary approach. It begins with natural theology and ends with the First World War, which had a significant impact on how humans viewed and interacted with nature. The author presents an overview of the different images of nature that were involved in these debates, particularly in the late 19th century when the scientific community paid lip service to Darwinism while interpreting it in their own distinct ways. The book also touches on the so-called "social Darwinism," which was neither a real theory nor a common body of ideas, and its various views of society and nature's economy. Part of the book deals with the persistence of moralizing images of nature in the work of many authors. One of the main features of the book is its wealth of detailed quotations, which allow the reader to see the original statements on which the author bases his discussion. The author privileges the analysis of different positions over a historiography offering a merely linear narrative based on general implications of ideas and theories. To revisit the concept of the Darwinian Revolution, we need to examine the historical context in which it occurred. The book argues that the Darwinian Revolution was not a sudden event but a gradual process that took place over several centuries. It was shaped by a range of factors, including the development of scientific knowledge, the rise of industrialization, and the growth of colonialism. The book also explores the impact of the Darwinian Revolution on society and culture, including the rise of eugenics, the development of social Darwinism, and the emergence of environmentalism. The book concludes by arguing that the Darwinian Revolution continues to shape our understanding of nature and our relationship with it today. It highlights the need for a more nuanced and complex understanding of the relationship between science, society, and nature and the importance of promoting a more sustainable and equitable world.

The Book

The book discusses ideas concerning the order and balance of nature (or economy of nature) from the late 17th century to the early 20th century. The perspective taken is broad,longue durée and interdisciplinary,and reveals the interplay of scientific,philosophical,moral and social ideas.

The Story

The story begins with natural theology (dating roughly to the onset of the so-called Newtonian Revolution) and ends with the First World War. The cut-off date has been chosen for the following reasons: the war changed the state of things,affecting mans way of looking at,and relating to,nature both directly and indirectly; indeed,it put an end to most applications of Darwinism to society and history,including interpretations of war as a form of the struggle for existence.

The Author

The author presents an overview of the different images of nature that were involved in these debates,especially in the late 19th century,when a largepart of the scientific community paid lip service to ‘Darwinism,while practically each expert felt free to interpret it in his own distinct way.

The Book's Features

The book also touches on the so-called ‘social Darwinism,which was neither a real theory,nor a common body of ideas,and its various views of society and natures economy. Part of this book deals with the persistence of moralizing images of nature in the work of many authors.

The Book's Analysis

One of the main features of the book is its wealth of (detailed) quotations.  In this way the author gives the reader the opportunity to see the original statements on which the author bases his discussion. The author privileges the analysis of different positions over a historiography offering a merely linear narrative based on general implications of ideas and theories.

Revisiting the Concept of the Darwinian Revolution

To revisit the concept of the so-called Darwinian Revolution,we need to examine the historical context in which it occurred. The book argues that the Darwinian Revolution was not a sudden event but a gradual process that took place over several centuries. It was shaped by a range of factors, including the development of scientific knowledge, the rise of industrialization, and the growth of colonialism. The book also explores the impact of the Darwinian Revolution on society and culture, including the rise of eugenics, the development of social Darwinism, and the emergence of environmentalism.

Conclusion

The book concludes by arguing that the Darwinian Revolution continues to shape our understanding of nature and our relationship with it today. It highlights the need for a more nuanced and complex understanding of the relationship between science, society, and nature and the importance of promoting a more sustainable and equitable world.

Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031310225
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023