Darwinian Revolution

Janet Browne, Aramont Professor of the History of Science (Harvard)

Thursday, Oct. 6 at 7:00 in SSWAC Parker-Reed Room

History tells us that Darwin was neither the first nor the only one to think of evolution. This talk takes the opportunity to think carefully about Charles Darwin and the revolution in thought that carries his name. How has this idea of a “Darwinian revolution” become so important?

Janet Browne is Aramont Professor of the History of Science at Harvard University where she teaches the history of natural history and biology. In 2002 she published a two-volume biography of Charles Darwin. Her interest in Darwin stems from her time as an editor on the Darwin Correspondence Project, Cambridge, England.

Student Discussions

• Darwin’s Adaptation December 20, 2016Matthew Hoffman
  It is funny how some things just catch fire in terms of the way in which they are perceived. At the turn of the 19th century, Charles Darwin was ...
• Discussing the Darwinian Revolution December 20, 2016smmitt20
  By publishing one single book, Charles Darwin started a revolution, the one named after him. Even though he might not be the one who originally thought of this particular concept, ...
• Even if there was a goal, why would humans be it? December 19, 2016swgray20
  Science is far from human-centric. All life on earth is not striving to become human. Evolution is not goal-oriented. These are the types of issues that Dr. Stone discussed during ...
• A Delayed Revolution December 18, 2016rdettm20
  Although not necessarily an immediate revolution, Darwin greatly impacted the scientific and secular world, opening its eyes to the realization of evolution.  Despite many other scientists (Robert Chambers, Alfred Russel, ...
• Revolutions, an Evolution in Itself December 8, 2016Grace Carroll
  Janet Brown’s talk, “Rethinking the Darwinian Revolution” delved into characteristics of the original Darwinian Revolution, and discussed how it has evolved since. One component to her talk was the striking difference ...
• The Darwinian Revolution November 3, 2016Stacey Hou
  In 1859, there was a groundbreaking revolution in both the scientific and religious realms: the origin of species, authored by Charles Darwin, was published. The book changed how people approach ...
• The Darwinian (and others) Revolution October 25, 2016mahurl20
  Darwin is often hailed as the sole founder of evolutionary theory, but Janet Browne’s lecture emphasized that his theory was based not only on his own observations, but also years ...
• (r)evolution October 25, 2016Joshua
  Almost anyone that you talk to will have some idea of Darwin. That theory of evolution cartoon will probably also come to mind. The common knowledge of Darwin, and the ...
• Darwin’s a Revolution? October 19, 2016Jaritza Abreu
  Janet Browne from Harvard University came to Colby to speak on the Darwinian Revolution. Two points Browne elaborated on was how Darwin is not the only one to speak on ...
• Century-Spanning Revolution? October 13, 2016Alisha Lee
  Darwin and his theories of natural selection are often thought in juxtaposition of God and the theory of Creationism; yet, history suggests otherwise. In Darwin’s life, and particularly in the ...