Eclipsing the Eclipse?: A Neo-Darwinian Historiography Revisited

Area of Science:

• History of Science
• Evolutionary Biology
• Historiography

Background:

• The "eclipse of Darwinism" narrative, popularized by Julian Huxley, has shaped historical accounts of evolutionary theory.
• This narrative has often limited the definition of "Darwinian" thought and overlooked alternative perspectives.
• Scholars like Peter Bowler have studied alternatives but perpetuated the narrow focus on what constitutes Darwinism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To re-examine the historiography of evolutionary theory around the turn of the 20th century.
• To challenge the universality of the "eclipse of Darwinism" narrative.
• To explore the persistence of diverse Darwinian concepts and their utilization in the Modern Synthesis.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of historical texts and conceptual frameworks of Darwinism.
• Tracing the evolution of ideas on variation from Darwin to later scientists.
• Comparative study of Darwinism's reception in different geographical contexts (e.g., Britain, US, Germany).

Main Results:

• The "eclipse of Darwinism" narrative is a flawed oversimplification.
• Tensions within Darwin's own work on variation (contingency vs. creativity) allowed for diverse interpretations of Darwinism.
• Geographical differences in scientific discourse, such as German debates on Haeckel's Darwinism, were misinterpreted as a universal decline.

Conclusions:

• Alternative forms of Darwinism persisted due to inherent tensions in Darwin's theories.
• The "eclipse" narrative fails to account for the varied meanings and geographical reception of Darwinism.
• A more nuanced understanding of evolutionary theory's history requires acknowledging these diverse and geographically specific developments.