Darwin, Schleiden, Whewell, and the “London Doctors”: Evolutionism and Microscopical Research in the Nineteenth Century

Charpa, Ulrich

doi:10.1007/s10838-010-9118-9

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Prior work has noted the potential importance of Whewell's influence on British biology (Charpa, 2010;Sloan, 2003;Snyder, 2011;Wettersten, 2005;Wilkins, 2012;Yeo, 1993) and on Darwin in particular (Ruse, 1975;Thagard, 1977). The potential influence of Whewell's specifically historical scientific work on British biologists has received little attention.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

William Whewell’s philosophy of architecture and the historicization of biology

Quinn

2016

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

William Whewell’s philosophy of architecture and the historicization of biology

Quinn

2016

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in

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“…The study of the impact of evolutionism, that is, beyond the theory’s strictly scientific merits, in the second half of the 19th century has generated a vast literature; evolutionist theories transcended the scientific field to acquire a social and literary dimension (Halliday, 1971 ; Belier, 1999 ; Landry, 2012 ), especially as a theory of the degeneration of the human species (Chamberlain & Gilman, 1986 ; Greenslade, 1994 ). One of the most fruitful avenues of enquiry was that which addressed the study of ‘minor’ species (invertebrates a unicellular organisms), which attracted a good deal of scientific attention in the late 19th century (Schloegel & Schmidgen, 2002 ; Charpa, 2010 ). The analysis of this avenue of research has allowed me to establish how molluscs in general and oysters in particular were used as paradigmatic examples of degenerate sensorial perception in evolutionist discourses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversification or sensory unification? Controversies around the senses in fin de siècle culture

Hernandez Barbosa

2024

HPLS

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This article analyses the evolutionist discourses on the senses that emerged in the late 19th century, when theories on the evolution of species were in full sway. Drawing on newspapers, essays and medical literature, this article aims to set face to face the two currents of thought that I have identified regarding sensory evolution: the one that stressed the value of the progressive specialisation of the senses as evidence for human evolution mainly supported by Max Nordau, and the one which regarded the sensory regrouping, exemplified by the phenomenon of synaesthesia, as the true symptom of evolution, strongly supported by Victor Segalen. A close examination of their arguments will provide clues concerning their relative position vis-à-vis the theory that stressed the exceptional nature of humankind among all living beings. Based on newspapers, essays and medical literature, this paper, which straddles several fields (history of science, philosophy, cultural history and aesthetics) aims to set both positions face to face, examining their arguments in detail and establishing their genealogies. This will lead to a better understanding of the scope and range of evolutionist discourses in the fin de siècle culture and on their impact upon artistic practices.

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Controlling Nature in the Lab and Beyond: Methodological Predicaments in Nineteenth-Century Botany

Nickelsen

2024

Archimedes

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Botany changed dramatically in the nineteenth century, particularly in German-speaking countries, and an important part of this change was the development of new methodological principles. Many botanists were deeply concerned with making observations accurate, experimental design meaningful, and inferences safe—in other words, they struggled to define “control strategies” and implement “control practices.” This essay specifically examines the work of Julius Wiesner (1838–1916), acclaimed plant physiologist in Vienna and protagonist of the new scientific botany. When Wiesner studied the influence of light on plants in his laboratory, he took care that all experimental circumstances were controlled meticulously; but the essay shows that when Wiesner moved his studies into the field, he had to adapt to entirely new conditions. The questions emerging from these studies ultimately demanded a different set of methodological principles and control strategies—so different the essay argues, that Wiesner helped to found a new sub-discipline: the “Biology of Plants”.

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Darwin, Schleiden, Whewell, and the “London Doctors”: Evolutionism and Microscopical Research in the Nineteenth Century

Cited by 6 publications

References 21 publications

William Whewell’s philosophy of architecture and the historicization of biology

William Whewell’s philosophy of architecture and the historicization of biology

Diversification or sensory unification? Controversies around the senses in fin de siècle culture

Controlling Nature in the Lab and Beyond: Methodological Predicaments in Nineteenth-Century Botany

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