From A. R. Wallace 9 July 1881
Summary
Enthusiasm for Henry George’s Progress and poverty. Considers it to rank with Adam Smith’s work. His own work on the land question [Land nationalisation (1882)].
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 9 July 1881 |
| Classmark: | DAR 106: B154–5 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13238 |
Matches: 6 hits
- … of Species and Spencer’s “First Principles” and Social Statics ”. I wish therefore to call …
- … to it, in case you care about books on Social & Political subjects, but here there is also …
- … rank as making an advance in Political and Social Science equal to that made by Adam Smith …
- … selection ( C. Darwin and Wallace 1858 ). Social statics ( Spencer 1851 ) was Herbert …
- … and T. Cadell. Spencer, Herbert. 1851. Social statics: or, the conditions essential to …
- … it has any bearing whatever on the vast social and political questions which have been …
From A. R. Wallace 10 May 1864
Summary
On the Borneo cave exploration.
ARW will send his contribution to theory of origin of man. The vast mental and cranial differences between man and apes, whereas structural differences in other parts of body are small. The problem of explaining diversity of human races along with the stability of man’s form during all historical epochs. Discussion with "Anthropologicals" [following reading of ARW’s paper, "The origin of human races", before the Anthropological Society, 1 Mar 1864].
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 10 May 1864 |
| Classmark: | DAR 106: B12–13 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4490 |
Matches: 5 hits
- … John R. 1979. Scientific naturalism and social reform in the thought of Alfred Russel …
- … of Chicago Press. Spencer, Herbert. 1851. Social statics: or, the conditions essential to …
- … the interplay between biological and social thought in Victorian scientific naturalism. …
- … while also developing co-operative social groups that protected the weak, natural …
- … Mr. Herbert Spencer’s works, especially Social Statics ’ ( Spencer 1851 ) had suggested …
From A. R. Wallace 2 January 1864
Summary
Remarks on ARW’s review of Samuel Haughton’s paper on bees’ cells
and Origin.
Agassiz’s strength as geologist and weakness in natural history theory.
Work problems.
His butterfly collection.
Problems with book on Malay journey.
Recommends Herbert Spencer and his Social statics.
Spencer’s "masterly" nebular hypothesis.
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 2 Jan 1864 |
| Classmark: | DAR 106: B8–11 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4378 |
From A. R. Wallace 2 October 1865
Summary
Information concerning improvements in the Reader under new sponsorship.
Current reading and work [on pigeons for Ibis 1 (1865): 365–400, and catalogue of his collection of birds].
Book of travels postponed indefinitely.
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 2 Oct 1865 |
| Classmark: | DAR 106: B27–30 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4906 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … articles in each number,—one Political or Social, one literary & one Scientific. Under the …
From A. R. Wallace 29 May [1864]
Summary
Argues the antiquity of the human species because natural selection acts differently with respect to men. Changes in man are largely confined to head and brain. Warfare and sex are very uncertain as means of selection.
Gives CD complete credit for theory of natural selection.
Is beginning his narrative of his travels.
Lyell argues against tracing man as far back as Miocene times. R. I. Murchison’s argument that Africa is the oldest existing land implies that Africa is the place to look for early man.
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 29 May [1864] |
| Classmark: | DAR 106: B14–19 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4514 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … purchase— There is also little difference of social condition & I think it rarely happens …
| letter | (5) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (5) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (5) |
| Wallace, A. R. | (5) |
Suggested reading
Summary
Contemporary writing Anon., The English matron: A practical manual for young wives, (London, 1846). Anon., The English gentlewoman: A practical manual for young ladies on their entrance to society, (Third edition, London, 1846). Becker, L. E.…
Moral Nature
Summary
In Descent of Man, Darwin argued that human morality had evolved from the social instincts of animals, especially the bonds of sympathy and love. Darwin gathered observations over many decades on animal behavior: the heroic sacrifices of social insects,…
Matches: 14 hits
- … , Darwin argued that human morality had evolved from the social instincts of animals, especially the …
- … it may be concluded that he has parental, conjugal and social instincts, and perhaps others.... …
- … many decades on animal behavior: the heroic sacrifices of social insects, the tender bonds of …
- … the pleasure they experienced when acting in accordance with social instincts, and the pain they …
- … but the foundations of ethical behavior remained the social instincts that humans shared with …
- … by The Times for undermining the foundations of social order. It was rebuked by the religious …
- … of sympathy [but]... it seems to me that he considers the social feeling in man the result of …
- … It is very extraordinary that he should recognize the social instincts to be natural to Animals, …
- … and conditions wh. belong of right to what I should call Social Selection--i.e., the selection by a …
- … and other instincts, without having retrograded in his social instincts ... I do not think that …
- … March [1870?] Darwin met the religious writer and social reformer Frances Power Cobbe in …
- … that conscience arose through a conflict between enduring social feelings and more fleeting desires, …
- … than by abstract ethical principles. "The lower social animals may be said to be under …
- … & most persons w^d^ call it instinctive ... Now as soon as a social animal became in some slight …
Biodiversity and its histories
Summary
The Darwin Correspondence Project was co-sponsor of Biodiversity and its Histories, which brought together scholars and researchers in ecology, politics, geography, anthropology, cultural history, and history and philosophy of science, to explore how…
Interview with Randal Keynes
Summary
Randal Keynes is a great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin, and the author of Annie’s Box (Fourth Estate, 2001), which discusses Darwin’s home life, his relationship with his wife and children, and the ways in which these influenced his feelings about…
Matches: 6 hits
- … 11. Darwin's support for the church as a social institution Dr White: Some …
- … in Britain at the time; and the church and chapels as social institutions. If you look at belief and …
- … other gentry in the village, that education was the greatest social need for the poor people - the …
- … church in the community, he was supporting the church as a social institution. I think, also, he was …
- … values; there was no difficulty there. So the church was a social institution to be supported …
- … well of human nature. I think he thought we were basically social and helpful to each other, and …
5873_1488
Summary
From B. J. Sulivan 13 February [1868]f1 Bournemouth Feby. 13. My dear Darwin As Mr Stirling has sent me the recpt. you may as well have it with the Photo of the four Fuegian boys which he wishes me to send you in case you have not seen it. He…
Matches: 1 hits
- … humanity introduced forms isolation, islands social behaviour Please cite as …
Letters as a Primary Source
Summary
Introduction: Why study Darwin’s letters? Courses about Darwin usually focus on the Origin of Species, widely regarded as one of the most important books ever written in the history of science. Yet as a starting point for understanding Darwin’s theory,…
Matches: 5 hits
- … the private sphere of his life and work, and onto the wider social sphere of collaboration, …
- … responses to his work. Letters reveal much about the social and material practices of science. They …
- … different backgrounds, perspectives, and agendas, a rich social world that is often invisible in …
- … in the history and philosophy of science, cultural and social history, literature, women’s studies, …
- … letters, both to understand Darwin’s work in its broader social context, and to explore the vital …
Letters as a Primary Source
Summary
Introduction: Why study Darwin’s letters? Courses about Darwin usually focus on the Origin of Species, widely regarded as one of the most important books ever written in the history of science. Yet as a starting point for understanding Darwin’s theory,…
Matches: 5 hits
- … the private sphere of his life and work, and onto the wider social sphere of collaboration, …
- … responses to his work. Letters reveal much about the social and material practices of science. They …
- … different backgrounds, perspectives, and agendas, a rich social world that is often invisible in …
- … in the history and philosophy of science, cultural and social history, literature, women’s studies, …
- … letters, both to understand Darwin’s work in its broader social context, and to explore the vital …
1.12 Marian Huxley, drawing
Summary
< Back to Introduction Portrayals of Darwin by women in his social circle cannot be lumped together as the products of adoring amateurs. In 1878 he was sketched by Marian (‘Mady’) Huxley, who was then only in her late teens, but already a trained and…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Introduction Portrayals of Darwin by women in his social circle cannot be lumped together …
The evolution of a misquotation
Summary
We gave you six things Darwin never said (despite what you may read elsewhere). None of the fake soundbites is more insidious than the first: It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is…
Matches: 1 hits
- … from Europe for American Business’, Southwestern Social Science Quarterly (1963) 44(1): 3-13, at …
Suggested reading
Summary
There is an extensive secondary literature on Darwin's life and work. Here are some suggested titles that focus Darwin’s correspondence, as well as scientific correspondence and letter-writing more generally. Collections of Darwin’s letters …
Matches: 3 hits
4.23 Gegeef, 'Battle Field of Science'
Summary
< Back to Introduction Another satirical print by ‘Gegeëf’, The Battle Field of Science and the Churches, is signed and dated 30 November 1873. It survives as a foldout plate in a twopenny journal, The Gauntlet, which, like Our National Church and…
Matches: 3 hits
- … Free Speech; Reason in Matters Religious, Political, Social’. Two follow-up cartoons were planned, …
- … the Advancement of Science back up a host of scientists and social philosophers, whose views implied …
- … v. Biogenesis’, while Herbert Spencer has the banner of ‘Social Science Association’ and William …
Robert FitzRoy
Summary
Robert FitzRoy was captain of HMS Beagle when Darwin was aboard. From 1831 to 1836 the two men lived in the closest proximity, their relationship revealed by the letters they exchanged while Darwin left the ship to explore the countries visited during the…
Scientific Networks
Summary
Friendship|Mentors|Class|Gender In its broadest sense, a scientific network is a set of connections between people, places, and things that channel the communication of knowledge, and that substantially determine both its intellectual form and content,…
Matches: 3 hits
- … both its intellectual form and content, and its material and social effects. In practice, such …
- … classes, nationalities, and professions. He extended the social and geographic range of his contacts …
- … Darwin worked from a position of considerable wealth and social privilege. He also sought knowledge …
Caroline Kennard
Summary
Kennard’s interest in science stemmed from her social commitments to the women's movement, her interests in nature study as a tool for educational reform, as well as her place in a tightly knit network of the Bostonian elite. Kennard was one of a…
Matches: 3 hits
- … many ways, Kennard’s public life was closely tied to the social world of elite educated, Boston …
- … articles and gave addresses on important issues related to social reform and on prominent American …
- … Kennard’s interest in science stemmed from her social commitments to the women's movement, her …
Darwin and dogs
Summary
Darwin was almost always in the company of dogs. Nina, Spark, Pincher, and Shiela. Snow, Dash, Bob, and Bran. The beloved terrier Polly (right). They were Darwin's constant companions at home and in the field, on walks and in sport, in his study and…
Fake Darwin: myths and misconceptions
Summary
Many myths have persisted about Darwin's life and work. Here are a few of the more pervasive ones, with full debunking below...
Matches: 1 hits
- … Many myths have persisted about Darwin's life and work. Here are a few of the more pervasive ones, …
2.7 Joseph Moore, Midland Union medal
Summary
< Back to Introduction The Midland Union was an association of natural history societies and field clubs across the Midland counties, intended to facilitate – especially through its journal The Midland Naturalist – ‘the interchange of ideas’ and…
Matches: 1 hits
- … David Elliston Allen, The Naturalist in Britain: A Social History (Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, …
George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans)
Summary
George Eliot was the pen name of celebrated Victorian novelist Mary Ann Evans (1819-1880). She was born on the outskirts of Nuneaton in Warwickshire and was educated at boarding schools from the age of five until she was 16. Her education ended when she…
4.2 Augustus Earle, caricature drawing
Summary
< Back to Introduction The paucity of evidence for Darwin’s appearance and general demeanour during the years of the Beagle voyage gives this humorous drawing of shipboard life a special interest. It is convincingly attributed to Augustus Earle, an…
Darwin and Gender Projects by Harvard Students
Summary
Working in collaboration with Professor Sarah Richardson and Dr Myrna Perez, Darwin Correspondence Project staff developed a customised set of 'Darwin and Gender' themed resources for a course on Gender, Sex and Evolution first taught at Harvard…
Matches: 4 hits
- … course on a whim, interested in the relationship between social stereotypes and science. She now …
- … the piece as a champion of women, and is condemned by the social strictures of his time. …
- … a feminist. Instead she shows us the “power of Victorian social norms” in a project that is both …
- … past. Her engaging plea draws attention to the impact that social and cultural patterns – as well as …
