A Review of a Course of Lectures on Evolution: Delivered Before the San Jose Universtiy Extension Club (Classic Reprint)

Evolution and ethics collide in a sharp critique of Darwin’s ideas, revealing how science shapes moral thought.

In this examination of lecture material from the early debates on evolution, the author questions the durability of Darwinian theory and the claim that species change over time. It connects scientific arguments about life’s history to debates about human conduct, poverty, charity, and the role of religion in society. The result is a confrontational look at how scientific claims can influence ethics and everyday life.

Written by David Starr Jordan, this edition frames the discussion around the immutability of species, the limits of embryology as evidence, and the distinction between instinct and reason. It challenges readers to consider how scientific theories should relate to moral and spiritual beliefs, and what that means for education, policy, and personal responsibility.

• Understanding the central debate over species and evolution, including critiques of transmutation ideas.
• Exploration of how science and ethics intersect, with discussions of poverty, charity, and social responsibility.
• Insights into historical scientific arguments and their influence on public thought.
• Questions about the role of religion and the potential limits of scientific explanation for moral questions.

Ideal for readers interested in the history of evolutionary theory, science and ethics, and the way ideas from the classroom shape broader culture.