Theory of Evolution
1859 CE
Charles Darwin publishes 'On the Origin of Species'.
Historical Context
In the mid-19th century, creationism and fixism (species are immutable) predominated. Fossils cast doubt, but the mechanism for species transformation was unknown.
The Event
After his Beagle voyage and decades of thought, Charles Darwin published 'On the Origin of Species' in 1859. He demonstrated that evolution occurs through the blind mechanism of 'natural selection'.
Key Figures
Charles Darwin (naturalist), Alfred Russel Wallace (independent co-discoverer of natural selection), Thomas Huxley ('Darwin's bulldog').
Aftermath
Immediate scientific and cultural shock. The theory destroyed the teleological argument (the divine watchmaker) and redefined the place of humans, no longer a special creation, but an animal among others.
Legacy & Culture
Fundamental pillar of modern biology. Unfortunately, it was also politically misappropriated (Spencer's social Darwinism) to justify imperialism and eugenics.
Historiography
Historiography analyzes how the idea of evolution was 'in the Victorian air' (Malthusian competitive capitalism) and why Wallace's contribution was long marginalized compared to Darwin's.
Sources and References
Stephen Jay Gould, La structure de la théorie de l'évolution
Correspondance Darwin-Wallace