Professor Edward Larson spoke at Ohio State on Monday as part of the “Darwin: The Growth of an Idea” series.
Larson’s lecture, “Darwin and the Victorian Soul: Late 19th Century Responses to Darwin’s Theory of Evolution,” explored the criticism and praise Darwin faced after his publication of “The Origins of Species” and “The Descent of Man.”
Larson also discussed some criticisms of evolution from the past and present.
“One goal for the speaker series is to bring together scholars and researchers from different disciplines, to provide an interdisciplinary perspective on Darwin and the growth of evolutionary theory,” said Mindy Wright, director of Community Partnerships.
FILE PHOTOThis 1869 portrait of Charles Darwin shows the scientist 13 years before his death. A Pepperdine University professor spoke Monday about the criticism and praise Darwin has received.“Professor Larson brings the perspective of an historian and lawyer to the ways people of Darwin’s time understood his theories.”
Larson won the Pulitzer Prize for his work “Summer for Gods: The Scopes Trial and America’s Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion.” He is also the Hugh and Hazel Darling Chair in Law and a professor of history at Pepperdine University, although he has ties to OSU.
“It’s always great to come back to Ohio State,” Larson said. “I wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for OSU; my parents met here as undergrads.”
Larson grew up in Mansfield, Ohio, alongside professor Jeffrey K. McKee of the Department of Anthropology at OSU.
McKee said that as a child, and even now, he has always wondered, ‘How does this guy know so much?’
Larson’s lecture on Monday was rescheduled from January 28, when OSU was closed because of inclement weather.
“Darwin: The Growth of an Idea” is a celebration of the 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of “The Origins of Species.” It also celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, who founded the National Academy of Sciences, as well as the 400th anniversary of Galileo using a telescope to study the sky, among other events.
This series will continue into Autumn Quarter 2009. Details on future events can be found at osu.edu/darwin.
Lauren Ludlow can be reached at [email protected].
