136-102 Darwinism: Man, Woman and Nature in the History of Biology

Credit Points:

When taken from History and Philosophy of Science, Faculty of Arts:

12.5 1st year

When taken from History and Philosophy of Science, Faculty of Science:

12.5

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Objectives:

Students completing this subject should:

• be familiar with historical accounts of evolutionary science as situated within, and influenced by, political struggles over visions of ourselves and our society;

• be able to recognise the cultural function of evolution in a variety of historical contexts;

• have an understanding of how interests have shaped the scientific conceptions of race, sexual differences, sexuality, social cohesion;

• have developed in broad outline a knowledge of recent innovations in the history and social studies of science;

• be able to account for changing constructions of nature and to understanding their significance for social thought.

Content:

An exploration of the work of Charles Darwin and theories of evolution. What conditions in 19th century Britain made the production of Darwin's theory possible? How did it win allies and influence? How was it read, enlisted and consequently shaped by struggles over religion, social order, eugenics, the woman question, humanism and environmentalism?

Assessment: