Document Detail


The genius of Erasmus Darwin. The International Conference and Commemoration of the Bicentenary of the Death of Erasmus Darwin was held in Lichfield, Staffordshire from 19-22 April 2002.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  12174468     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
In a concluding session, David Knight (University of Durham) took the title '"One great slaughter-house the warring world"--living in revolutionary times'. He pointed out that Darwinian thought had to contend with three revolutions. First, the political revolutions of 1776 and 1789, leading to the terror of the 1790s that washed over the English Midlands leaving Priesley's house burnt and Priestley himself exiled to America. Second, the scientific revolution, which valued exact knowledge and specialism rather than wide syntheses. Third, the Romantic revolution which emphasized the tragic rather than the cheerful optimism of Darwin's heroic couplets. For all these reasons Darwin's influence waned. However, Knight finished on an optimistic note that echoed King-Hele's opening address, saying that in our own times, as suspicion of experts grows, and some, at least, see science as a liberating force, Darwin's fame may recover. Negotiations are in process for the publication of the proceedings under the title 'The genius of Erasmus Darwin: proceedings of a bicentennial conference', and a website has been constructed that contains details of all speakers (http://www.bham.ac.uk/erasmusdarwin/).
Authors:
Christopher U M Smith
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Biography; Congresses; Historical Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Endeavour     Volume:  26     ISSN:  0160-9327     ISO Abbreviation:  Endeavour     Publication Date:  2002 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2002-08-14     Completed Date:  2002-10-16     Revised Date:  2004-11-17    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0375037     Medline TA:  Endeavour     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  45-6     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Aston University, Birmingham, UK B4 7ET. c.u.m.smith@aston.ac.uk
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Biology / history
Education / history
Great Britain
History, 18th Century
Literature / history
Personal Name Subject
Personal Name Subject:
Erasmus Darwin

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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