Description
Populations change through time, and understanding how and why they change is central to the study of biology. But, this wasn't always the case. In the Nineteenth Century, as Charles Darwin was developing the theory of evolution by natural selection, most scientists and the public alike believed that plants and animals were static, not changing since the time of creation. Thus, the writings of Darwin transformed our understanding of the dynamic natural world. His ideas have further shaped the fields of medicine, agriculture, and social policy, and motivated great works of art and literature. This discussion-based course will explore the development of Darwin's revolutionary ideas through a survey of his life, his major written works, and the influence of his writing on modern thinking. (Offered every year).
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
Pathways:
The Interdisciplinary Clusters | The Spirit of Our Age: Nineteenth Century Science and Culture
The Capacities | Historical Perspectives