Darwinian Darwinian QuestionsQuestions

andand Darwinian Myths Darwinian Myths

Jonathan SmithJonathan Smith

Darwin Anniversary Darwin Anniversary ColloquiumColloquium

21 January 200921 January 2009

Who Who WasWas Charles Charles Darwin?Darwin?

Robert Darwin (father)Robert Darwin (father) A wealthy physicianA wealthy physician

Resided in Shrewsbury, in Resided in Shrewsbury, in the west of Englandthe west of England

Susannah Wedgwood (mother)Susannah Wedgwood (mother) First child of Wedgwood Potteries founder Josiah Wedgwood Died when Charles was 8

Who Who WasWas Charles Charles Darwin?Darwin?

Erasmus Darwin (grandfather)Erasmus Darwin (grandfather)Physician, inventor, poet, Physician, inventor, poet,

entrepreneurentrepreneur

A promulgator of evolutionary ideasA promulgator of evolutionary ideas

Emma Wedgwood (wife)Darwin’s first cousinShe and Charles had 10 children, 2 of whom died in infancy, 1 in childhood

Was Darwin Going to be a Was Darwin Going to be a Minister?Minister?

““I attended on two I attended on two occasions the operating occasions the operating theatre in the hospital at theatre in the hospital at Edinburgh, and saw two Edinburgh, and saw two very bad operations, one very bad operations, one on a child, but I rushed on a child, but I rushed away before they were away before they were completed. Nor did I ever completed. Nor did I ever attend again, for hardly attend again, for hardly any inducement would any inducement would have been strong enough have been strong enough to make me do so. . . . The to make me do so. . . . The two cases fairly haunted two cases fairly haunted me for many a long year.” me for many a long year.”

–– Darwin, Darwin, AutobiographyAutobiography

University of University of Edinburgh’s Old Edinburgh’s Old College in the College in the 1820s. Darwin 1820s. Darwin

would have studied would have studied anatomy and anatomy and

surgery in this surgery in this buildingbuilding

Cambridge and the Cambridge and the ClergyClergy

““To my deep To my deep mortification my father mortification my father once said to me,once said to me, ‘You You care for nothing but care for nothing but shooting, dogs, and rat-shooting, dogs, and rat-catching, and you will be catching, and you will be a disgrace to yourself a disgrace to yourself and all your family.’” and all your family.’”

–– Darwin, Darwin, AutobiographyAutobiography

“Go it, Charlie!” A caricature of Darwin at

Cambridge, riding a beetle and brandishing a

collecting net, around 1831

““An Opportunity of SeeingAn Opportunity of SeeingMen and Things”Men and Things”

Darwin’s father: “a wild Darwin’s father: “a wild scheme” and “useless scheme” and “useless undertaking” that would be undertaking” that would be “disreputable to your “disreputable to your character as a Clergyman”character as a Clergyman”

But: “If you can find any man But: “If you can find any man of common sense who advises of common sense who advises you to go, I will give my you to go, I will give my consent.”consent.”

Uncle Jos: “The pursuit of Uncle Jos: “The pursuit of Natural History, though Natural History, though certainly not professional, is certainly not professional, is very suitable to a very suitable to a clergyman. . . . It affords him clergyman. . . . It affords him such an opportunity of seeing such an opportunity of seeing men and things as happens to men and things as happens to few.” few.”

Josiah Wedgwood II(Darwin’s Uncle)

How Did Darwin Get on the How Did Darwin Get on the BeagleBeagle??

““Fitz-Roy was convinced that Fitz-Roy was convinced that he could judge a man’s he could judge a man’s character by the outline of his character by the outline of his features; and he doubted features; and he doubted whether anyone with my nose whether anyone with my nose could possess sufficient could possess sufficient energy and determination for energy and determination for the voyage. But I think he was the voyage. But I think he was afterwards well-satisfied that afterwards well-satisfied that my nose had spoken falsely.”my nose had spoken falsely.”

–– Darwin, Darwin, AutobiographyAutobiography

Beagle Captain Robert Fitz-Roy (1805-1865)

What Was the What Was the BeagleBeagle Doing?Doing?

Mapping the coast of Mapping the coast of southern South southern South America for military America for military and mercantile and mercantile purposespurposes

Launching a mission Launching a mission settlement in Tierra settlement in Tierra del Fuegodel Fuego

While the ship did its While the ship did its surveying, Darwin surveying, Darwin went on extended went on extended inland expeditionsinland expeditions

The Beagle in the Straits of Magellan

Did Darwin Have a “Eureka Did Darwin Have a “Eureka Moment” on the Moment” on the

Galápagos?Galápagos?““It never occurred to me, It never occurred to me, that the productions of that the productions of islands only a few miles islands only a few miles apart, and placed under apart, and placed under the same physical the same physical conditions, would be conditions, would be dissimilar. I therefore did dissimilar. I therefore did not attempt to make a not attempt to make a series of specimens from series of specimens from the separate islands.”the separate islands.”

–– Darwin, Darwin, Voyage of Voyage of the the BeagleBeagle (1839)(1839)

Finches’ beaks, added to the second edition of

The Voyage of the Beagle (1845)

Did Darwin Discover Did Darwin Discover Evolution?Evolution?

Evolution is an Evolution is an ancient conceptancient concept

Many theories of Many theories of “development” or “development” or “transmutation” in “transmutation” in Europe in 18C/19CEurope in 18C/19C

Darwin provided a Darwin provided a plausible plausible mechanismmechanism for evolution: for evolution: natural selectionnatural selection

Darwin in 1840, age 31

How Does Natural Selection How Does Natural Selection Work?Work?

Traits of individuals Traits of individuals within a species varywithin a species vary

Populations tend to Populations tend to grow faster than food grow faster than food supplysupply “struggle for “struggle for existence”existence”

Individuals with an Individuals with an advantageous variation advantageous variation are more likely to are more likely to survive and produce survive and produce offspring with the same offspring with the same traittrait

Over time, new species Over time, new species developdevelop

““I am almost convinced I am almost convinced (quite contrary to opinion I (quite contrary to opinion I started with) that species started with) that species are not (it is like confessing are not (it is like confessing a murder) immutable.” a murder) immutable.”

– – Darwin to Joseph Darwin to Joseph HookerHooker

11 January 1844 11 January 1844

Why Did Darwin Wait Why Did Darwin Wait So Long to Publish?So Long to Publish?

My Dear Emma,My Dear Emma,I have just finished I have just finished

my sketch of my species my sketch of my species theory. If, as I believe, that theory. If, as I believe, that my theory is true, it will be my theory is true, it will be a considerable step in a considerable step in science.science.

I therefore write I therefore write this, in case of my sudden this, in case of my sudden death, as my most solemn death, as my most solemn & last request, that you & last request, that you will devote £400 to its will devote £400 to its publication.publication.

– – Charles to his wifeCharles to his wife 5 July 18445 July 1844

The example of The example of VestigesVestiges and the and the fear of backlashfear of backlash

The desire to The desire to accumulate more accumulate more evidenceevidence

Ill health Ill health Barnacles!Barnacles!

Darwin in 1855

Does the Does the OriginOrigin Discuss DiscussHuman Evolution?Human Evolution?

““Probably all the organic beings which Probably all the organic beings which have ever lived on this earth have have ever lived on this earth have descended from some one primordial descended from some one primordial form, into which life was first breathed. . . form, into which life was first breathed. . . ..Light will be thrown on the origin of man Light will be thrown on the origin of man and his history.”and his history.” –– Origin of SpeciesOrigin of Species, 1, 1stst ed. (1859) ed. (1859)““The early progenitors of man were once The early progenitors of man were once no doubt covered with hair, both sexes no doubt covered with hair, both sexes having beards; their ears were pointed, having beards; their ears were pointed, and capable of movement; and their and capable of movement; and their bodies were provided with a tail . . . . The bodies were provided with a tail . . . . The foot . . . was then prehensile; and our foot . . . was then prehensile; and our progenitors, no doubt, were arboreal in progenitors, no doubt, were arboreal in their habits, frequenting some warm, their habits, frequenting some warm, forest-clad land.”forest-clad land.” –– Descent of ManDescent of Man (1871) (1871)

How Was theHow Was the Origin Origin Received?Received?

With such moderate With such moderate abilities as I possess, it is abilities as I possess, it is truly surprising that thus truly surprising that thus I should have influenced I should have influenced to a considerable extent to a considerable extent the beliefs of scientific the beliefs of scientific men on some important men on some important points. points.

–– Darwin, Darwin, AutobiographyAutobiography

Responses ran from Responses ran from horrified shock to horrified shock to skepticism to skepticism to cautious acceptance cautious acceptance to full endorsementto full endorsement

““almost every almost every naturalist admits the naturalist admits the great principle of great principle of evolution” (evolution” (OriginOrigin, , 66thth ed., 1872) ed., 1872)

Natural selection did Natural selection did not fare as well until not fare as well until the 1930s and 40sthe 1930s and 40s

Is Darwinism At Odds with Is Darwinism At Odds with Religion?Religion?““I see no good reason why the views I see no good reason why the views given in this volume should shock the given in this volume should shock the religious feelings of any one. A religious feelings of any one. A celebrated author and divine has celebrated author and divine has written to me that ‘he has gradually written to me that ‘he has gradually learnt to see that it is just as noble a learnt to see that it is just as noble a conception of the Deity to believe that conception of the Deity to believe that He created a few original forms capable He created a few original forms capable of self-development into other and of self-development into other and needful forms, as to believe that He needful forms, as to believe that He required a fresh act of creation to required a fresh act of creation to supply the voids caused by the action of supply the voids caused by the action of His laws.’”His laws.’”

– – Origin of SpeciesOrigin of Species, 2, 2ndnd ed. (1860) ed. (1860) Top: Photograph of Darwin in 1867, age 58Bottom: A caricature of Darwin as an ape (1871)

Does Evolution = Does Evolution = Progress?Progress?

““As natural selection works As natural selection works solely by and for the good of solely by and for the good of each being, all corporeal and each being, all corporeal and mental endowments will tend mental endowments will tend to progress towards to progress towards perfection.”perfection.”

–– Origin of SpeciesOrigin of Species, final , final sentence of sentence of penultimate paragraph, all ednspenultimate paragraph, all edns

““The ultimate result [of natural The ultimate result [of natural selection] will be that each selection] will be that each creature will tend to become creature will tend to become more and more improved in more and more improved in relation to its conditions of life. relation to its conditions of life. . . . Natural selection includes . . . Natural selection includes no necessary and universal law no necessary and universal law of advancement or of advancement or development.” development.”

–– Origin of SpeciesOrigin of Species, 3rd ed. , 3rd ed. (1861) (1861)

Who Were the Who Were the OriginOrigin’s Best ’s Best Critics?Critics?

““Fleeming Jenkin has given me much Fleeming Jenkin has given me much trouble.”trouble.”

– – Darwin to J. D. Hooker, 16 January 1869Darwin to J. D. Hooker, 16 January 1869

Electrical engineer Fleeming Jenkin (1833-Electrical engineer Fleeming Jenkin (1833-1885) and “swamping” 1885) and “swamping”

“I am greatly troubled at the short duration of the world according to Sir W. Thomson.”

–– Darwin to James Croll, 31 January 1869

Physicist William Thomson, Lord Kelvin (1824-1907) and the age of the earth.

Was Darwin an Atheist?Was Darwin an Atheist? ““Whilst on board the Whilst on board the BeagleBeagle I I

was quite orthodox, and I was quite orthodox, and I remember being heartily remember being heartily laughed at by several of the laughed at by several of the officers for quoting the Bible as officers for quoting the Bible as an unanswerable authority” an unanswerable authority”

““I deserved to be called a I deserved to be called a Theist . . . about the time when Theist . . . about the time when I wrote the I wrote the Origin of Species”Origin of Species”

““The old argument of design in The old argument of design in nature, which formerly seemed nature, which formerly seemed to me so conclusive, fails, now to me so conclusive, fails, now that the law of natural selection that the law of natural selection has been discovered.” has been discovered.”

““I for one must be content to I for one must be content to remain an Agnostic.” remain an Agnostic.”

– – Darwin, Darwin, AutobiographyAutobiography

Annie Darwin at age 8 in 1849,

two years before her death

Was Darwin a Racist?Was Darwin a Racist?““I thank God, I shall never again I thank God, I shall never again visit a slave-country. . . . Picture to visit a slave-country. . . . Picture to yourself the chance, ever hanging yourself the chance, ever hanging over you, of your wife and your over you, of your wife and your little children being torn from you little children being torn from you and sold like beasts to the first and sold like beasts to the first bidder! And these deeds are done bidder! And these deeds are done and palliated by men, who profess and palliated by men, who profess to love their neighbours as to love their neighbours as themselves, who believe in God, themselves, who believe in God, and pray that his Will be done on and pray that his Will be done on earth! It makes one’s blood boil, earth! It makes one’s blood boil, yet heart tremble, to think that we yet heart tremble, to think that we Englishmen and our American Englishmen and our American descendants, with their boastful descendants, with their boastful cry of liberty, have been and are cry of liberty, have been and are so guilty.” so guilty.”

– – Darwin on leaving Brazil, Darwin on leaving Brazil, Voyage of Voyage of the Beagle the Beagle (1845)(1845)

“Am I Not a Man and a Brother?” Wedgwood Medallion for Britain’s Abolition of Slavery

Movement

Was Darwin an Was Darwin an Imperialist?Imperialist?““No country can be named in which all No country can be named in which all

the native inhabitants are now so the native inhabitants are now so perfectly adapted to each other and to perfectly adapted to each other and to the physical conditions under which the physical conditions under which they live, that none of them could they live, that none of them could anyhow be improved; for in all anyhow be improved; for in all countries, the natives have been so far countries, the natives have been so far conquered by naturalised productions, conquered by naturalised productions, that they have allowed foreigners to that they have allowed foreigners to take firm possession of the land. And as take firm possession of the land. And as foreigners have thus everywhere beaten foreigners have thus everywhere beaten some of the natives, we may safely some of the natives, we may safely conclude that the natives might have conclude that the natives might have been modified with advantage, so as to been modified with advantage, so as to have better resisted such intruders.”have better resisted such intruders.”

– – Darwin, Darwin, Origin of SpeciesOrigin of Species

The Fuegians returned by the Beagle to their native land as part of a missionary project.

Was Darwin a Sexist?Was Darwin a Sexist?““The chief distinction in the The chief distinction in the intellectual powers of the two intellectual powers of the two sexes is shown by man attaining to sexes is shown by man attaining to a higher eminence, in whatever he a higher eminence, in whatever he takes up, than woman can attain—takes up, than woman can attain—whether requiring deep thought, whether requiring deep thought, reason, or imagination, or merely reason, or imagination, or merely the use of the senses and hands. If the use of the senses and hands. If two lists were made of the most two lists were made of the most eminent men and women in eminent men and women in poetry, painting, sculpture, music, poetry, painting, sculpture, music, —comprising composition and —comprising composition and performance, history, science, and performance, history, science, and philosophy, with half-a-dozen philosophy, with half-a-dozen names under each subject, the two names under each subject, the two lists would not bear comparison.”lists would not bear comparison.”

– – Darwin, Darwin, Descent of Descent of ManMan (1871) (1871)

Top: Caricature of Darwin taking a woman’s pulse, 1872Bottom: Peacock displaying for peahen

Was Darwin a Social Was Darwin a Social Darwinist?Darwinist?

““A most important obstacle in civilised A most important obstacle in civilised countries to an increase in the number countries to an increase in the number of men of a superior class has been the of men of a superior class has been the fact that the very poor and reckless, fact that the very poor and reckless, who are often degraded by vice, almost who are often degraded by vice, almost invariably marry early, whilst the invariably marry early, whilst the careful and frugal, who are generally careful and frugal, who are generally otherwise virtuous, marry late in otherwise virtuous, marry late in life. . . . life. . . .

. . . . Yet man might by selection . . . . Yet man might by selection do something not only for the bodily do something not only for the bodily constitution and frame of his offspring, constitution and frame of his offspring, but for their intellectual and moral but for their intellectual and moral qualities. Both sexes ought to refrain qualities. Both sexes ought to refrain from marriage if in any marked degree from marriage if in any marked degree inferior in body or mind; but such hopes inferior in body or mind; but such hopes are Utopian . . . .”are Utopian . . . .”

– – Darwin, Darwin, Descent of ManDescent of ManTop: Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)

Bottom: Francis Galton (Darwin’s cousin) (1822-1911)

How Did Darwin Regard How Did Darwin Regard Animals?Animals?

““For my own part I would as soon For my own part I would as soon be descended from that heroic be descended from that heroic little monkey, who braved his little monkey, who braved his dreaded enemy in order to save dreaded enemy in order to save the life of his keeper; or from that the life of his keeper; or from that old baboon, who carried away in old baboon, who carried away in triumph his young comrade from a triumph his young comrade from a crowd of astonished dogs—as from crowd of astonished dogs—as from a savage who delights to torture a savage who delights to torture his enemies, offers up bloody his enemies, offers up bloody sacrifices, practises infanticide sacrifices, practises infanticide without remorse, treats his wives without remorse, treats his wives like slaves, knows no decency, and like slaves, knows no decency, and is haunted by the grossest is haunted by the grossest superstitions.”superstitions.”

–– Darwin, Darwin, Descent of ManDescent of Man

Julia Cameron photograph of Darwin

at age 59, 1868

Darwin and the Problem Darwin and the Problem of Painof Pain

““I was so bold during my wife’s confinement as to I was so bold during my wife’s confinement as to administer Chloroform before the Dr. came & she knew administer Chloroform before the Dr. came & she knew nothing from first pain till she heard that the child was nothing from first pain till she heard that the child was born.— It is the grandest & most blessed of discoveries.”born.— It is the grandest & most blessed of discoveries.” – – Darwin to J. S. Henslow, 17 January 1850Darwin to J. S. Henslow, 17 January 1850

An English gentleman would not himself give a moment’s An English gentleman would not himself give a moment’s unnecessary pain to any living creature, and would unnecessary pain to any living creature, and would

instinctively exert himself to put an end to any suffering instinctively exert himself to put an end to any suffering before his eyes: yet every game preserver sanctions a before his eyes: yet every game preserver sanctions a system which consigns thousands of animals to acute system which consigns thousands of animals to acute

agony, probably of eight or ten hours duration, before it agony, probably of eight or ten hours duration, before it is ended by death. is ended by death.

– – Darwin, “An Appeal Against Steel Traps,” 1863Darwin, “An Appeal Against Steel Traps,” 1863

I am fully convinced that physiology can progress only by I am fully convinced that physiology can progress only by the aid of experiments on living animals. the aid of experiments on living animals. – – Darwin to the Royal Commission on Subjecting Darwin to the Royal Commission on Subjecting Live Animals to Live Animals to Experiments, 3 November 1875Experiments, 3 November 1875

What Does Darwinism Do to What Does Darwinism Do to Wonder?Wonder?““It is interesting to contemplate an entangled It is interesting to contemplate an entangled bank, clothed with many plants of many kinds, bank, clothed with many plants of many kinds, with birds singing on the bushes, with various with birds singing on the bushes, with various insects flitting about, and with worms crawling insects flitting about, and with worms crawling through the damp earth, and to reflect that these through the damp earth, and to reflect that these elaborately constructed forms, so different from elaborately constructed forms, so different from each other, and dependent on each other in so each other, and dependent on each other in so complex a manner, have all been produced by complex a manner, have all been produced by laws acting around us. . . . Thus, from the war of laws acting around us. . . . Thus, from the war of nature, from famine and death, the most exalted nature, from famine and death, the most exalted object which we are capable of conceiving, object which we are capable of conceiving, namely, the production of the higher animals, namely, the production of the higher animals, directly follows. There is grandeur in this view of directly follows. There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed by the Creator into a few originally breathed by the Creator into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.”been, and are being, evolved.”

–– Darwin, Darwin, Origin of SpeciesOrigin of Species, closing paragraph, closing paragraph

Darwin in 1881, the year before

his death

Upcoming Darwin Upcoming Darwin Anniversary Colloquium Anniversary Colloquium

EventsEventsDon Bord and Kent Murray (UM-Dearborn), “The Age of Don Bord and Kent Murray (UM-Dearborn), “The Age of

the Earth and the Age of the Universe”the Earth and the Age of the Universe”February 3, 3:00-4:30 p.m. 1030 CBFebruary 3, 3:00-4:30 p.m. 1030 CB

John Mitani (UM-AA), “The Behavior of Wild Chimpanzees”John Mitani (UM-AA), “The Behavior of Wild Chimpanzees”February 17, 4:30-6:00 p.m. 1030 CBFebruary 17, 4:30-6:00 p.m. 1030 CB

Marsha Richmond (Wayne State), “Darwin and Genetics, Marsha Richmond (Wayne State), “Darwin and Genetics, 1909-2009”1909-2009”

February 25, 4:30-6:00 p.m. 1010 SLRCFebruary 25, 4:30-6:00 p.m. 1010 SLRC

Audrey Smedley (Virginia Commonwealth), “Race and Audrey Smedley (Virginia Commonwealth), “Race and Evolution”Evolution”

Late March/Early April. TBA.Late March/Early April. TBA.

Carl Cohen (UM-AA), “Darwin and the Ethics of Animal Carl Cohen (UM-AA), “Darwin and the Ethics of Animal Experimentation” April 6, 1:05-2:20 p.m. 1030 CBExperimentation” April 6, 1:05-2:20 p.m. 1030 CB