HIST 397 - Seminar: Spring-Term Topics in History

FDR: HU
Credits: 4
Planned Offering: Spring

Prerequisite: At least junior standing, 15 credits in history, or consent of the instructor. Prerequisites may vary by topic. A seminar in a selected topic or problem in history. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different.

Spring 2014 topic:

HIST 397: Roll Over, Darwin: The Non-Darwinian Tradition in Evolutionary Biology (4). Prerequisites: At least junior class standing, 15 credits in history, or instructor consent. We begin by discussing the discipline of the history of science and its place in historical scholarship generally. One of the most influential scientific theories is the theory of organic evolution. Its history has largely been written by Darwin and his followers. We shall look at the “Darwin industry” but then additionally explore a revisionist history that incorporates the non-Darwinian approach to the origin of life and species. We look at the scientific facts, the different theories and raise the question “Where were these situated?” “What socio-political purposes and religious connotations did they have?” We end by bringing the historical perspective to bear on today’s ongoing controversies about evolution theory. (HU) Rupke.