Thomas Henry Huxley: The Evolution of a Scientist - Hardcover

Lyons, Sherrie L.

4.6

5 ratings by Goodreads

9781573927062: Thomas Henry Huxley: The Evolution of a Scientist

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1573927066 ISBN 13: 9781573927062

Publisher: Prometheus, 1999

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

English biologist Thomas Henry Huxley (1825-95) was the foremost advocate of Darwin's theory of evolution, which he was "prepared to go to the stake" to defend. The controversies surrounding Darwin in the Victorian age became a vehicle for Huxley to gain power in intellectual, institutional, and political arenas.Yet in this investigation of Huxley's motivations in science, Sherrie L. Lyons uncovers Huxley's skepticism of two basic tenets of Darwin's theory - natural selection and gradualism. His criticism of Darwinian science as being too simplistic led to a strengthening of evolutionary theory, rather than a weakening of it. A self-appointed defender of truth, Huxley developed his own research program, examining philosophy prior to Darwin in an effort to fill the holes in evolutionary theory. Lyons also looks at Huxley's conversion from saltation to gradualism, and his views on progression and the fossil record.As Huxley's interest in developmental morphology continues to be crucial in studying problems in comparative anatomy, embryology, paleontology, and evolution, this book is essential to students of Darwin, Huxley, and the scientific enterprise.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author:

Sherrie L. Lyons (Amherst, NY) is an assistant professor of science history at Daemen College, a Huxley lecturer, and the author of Spirits, Skulls, Serpents, and Darwin: Approaches to 'Science' in the 19th Century.

Review:

"...eminently readable, a tribute to the author, editors, and various reviewers..." -- Ecology

"...provides interesting information and insights for students of Huxley, Darwin, and the scientific enterprise." -- Southeastern Naturalist

"...worth reading to gain an understanding of Huxley from a different, philosophical perspective." -- Journal of the History of Biology

"This book is essential to students of Darwin, Huxley, and the scientific enterprise." -- Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society

"provides a wealth of valuable insights as to Huxley's career and its place in the evolution of 19th century biology" -- History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.