July 21, 2009
Week 8: "New Astronomy," Biological Evolution, and Extraterrestrial Life
Topics covered: Spectrum Analysis and Life beyond Earth; Darwin on “the Creator of Countless Universes;” The Popular Astronomy of Richard Proctor and Camille Flammarion; Alfred Russell Wallace’s Anthropocentric Universe
Synopsis: Week 8 explores contributions to the debate by the co-founders of evolutionary theory, though from different perspectives. Charles Darwin (1809-1882) did not mention extraterrestrial life in his writings but his theory so profoundly influenced later views on the subject that its inclusion is essential. Late in his career Alfred Russell Wallace (1823-1913) advocated the view that our place in the universe “is special and probably unique,” an idea still held by some today. Against this backdrop are the extremely popular writings of Richard Proctor (1837-1888) and Camille Flammarion (1842-1925), who distanced themselves from the anti-pluralist views of Whewell. Their works on astronomy and the plurality of worlds inspired two generations of readers. Assigned readings: Chapter 12, “New Approaches to an Ancient Question” (Crowe 2008:369-437). Crowe’s text includes primary source excerpts from these works: Charles Darwin, “On the Tendency of Species to Form Varieties; and on the Perpetuation of Varieties and Species by Natural Means of Selection,” Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London: Zoology 3 (1858). Richard Proctor, Our Place among Infinities, 2nd ed. (London: Henry S. King & Co. 1876). Camille Flammarion, The Plurality of Inhabited Worlds, unpublished trans. by Robert L. Jones, Jr., from Flammarion’s La Pluralité des mondes habités (Paris: Mallet-Bachelier, 1862). Alfred Russell Wallace, Man’s Place in the Universe: A Study of the Results of Scientific Research in Relation to the Unity or Plurality of Worlds, 4th ed. (London: Chapman and Hall, 1904).
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