The Sedentary Cause and the Brilliant Event
After the revolutions of 1848 Europe formed a new way of looking at the world. They were no longer optimistic about the future; rather, they were cynical and realistic. Many new thoughts and ideas emerged as a result of this, one of the most prominent being thoughts on evolution. In 1859, Charles Darwin wrote and published On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, which is thought by some to have brought about a "new science." In sum, the argument was that life originated and continued through constant struggle in which species with random mutations were better suited to changing conditions survived to produce offspring, while those that did not possess said mutations became extinct. Darwin's ideas radically affected society's self-conception, challenged relationship between God and man, and spurred the development of the scientific field of evolution and less scientific ideas such as Social Darwinism. After The Origin of Species was completed, Darwin sent copies to all of the great scientific minds of the time. Not only to those who would agree with his ideas, but also those who would vehemently oppose them. While many wrote fervent negative reviews of his book, he also formed a loyal following including H
As an example, Huxley had a chance to test his teeth in a debate that took place in 1860. Darwin's most vocal critics were Sedgwick, Richard Owen and the Bishop of Oxford, Samuel Wilberforce. During the annual meeting of the British Association at Oxford, after a talk that made some reference to Darwin's ideas, Wilberforce gave a verbal bashing of Darwinism. Huxley passionately replied on behalf of Darwin, in which he accused the Bishop of prejudice and deceit. Although there was no clear winner of the debate many see it as a victory for Darwin because it proved that Darwinism could no longer be ignored. Overall, Irvine shows not only the development of evolution as a theory but as the development of popular thought in all aspects of society. He uses extensive facts and historical events as the launching point of a synthesis of the progression of thought and culture as derived from the thoughts of Darwin. The book is a detailed succession of scientific ideas of Darwin, to the application to politics, business, and philosophy by Huxley. Unlike Barzun, Irvine is willing to accept the fact that Darwin gives little credit to his predecessors for his advances in thought. However, the abundance of primary sources leaves little room for argument on the importance of the "New Science" and the clarity and thoroughness of the argument would have surely been appreciated by a debater of the likes of Huxley. Debating societies in Victorian England were a common socializing event and Huxley's role in promoting evolution was dependant upon these social events. In these societies great minds from both sides of every argument were represented to result in the greatest competition of intellectual and spiritual life which would result in greater "truth and unity" (251). The early years of the Metaphysical Society, the group which was started by Huxley and many other famou
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Approximate Word count = 1267
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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