Darwin's Sacred Cause: How a Hatred of Slavery Shaped Darwin's Views on Human Evolution
Adrian J. Desmond & James Moore
Language: English
Biography & Autobiography Darwin; Charles - Ethics Darwin; Charles - Political and Social Views Evolution General History Human Evolution - Philosophy Human evolution Life Sciences Moral and ethical aspects Philosophy Science Science & Technology Slavery Slavery - Moral and Ethical Aspects Slavery - Philosophy Social Science
Publisher: Boston: Houghton Mifflin, c2009.
Published: Dec 23, 2008
Description:
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
Based on a painstaking study of Darwin's private papers -- correspondence, notebooks, journals, ship logs, and even scribbled remarks in the margins of books and pamphlets he had read -- this compelling book endeavors to redeem and humanize the often misunderstood man. Critics uniformly praised _Darwin's Sacred Cause_, describing it as thoroughly researched, absorbing, and even "thrilling" (_Independent_). Only a few had misgivings: some critics noticed that the authors gloss over evidence of prejudice -- practically a hallmark of polite Victorian society -- in Darwin's writings, and others questioned the success of the authors in proving their claims. So was Darwin a benevolent humanitarian or an impartial scientist? Readers of this articulate and engrossing book will have to decide for themselves.