Readings in the History of Evolutionary Theory
Retail Price to Students:
$50.95 (04)Description
This collection of primary source readings covers the history of evolutionary theory from its roots in Classical Greece to the present. Beginning with excerpts from Plato and Aristotle, the volume proceeds chronologically through the time of Darwin and ends with a look at the revolutions in thought--such as evolutionary development biology--that carry the evolutionary narrative from Darwin to the current day.Wetherington begins each chapter with an overview that contextualizes the selections it contains. Vivid biographical sketches at the beginning of each reading illuminate the authors and the oeuvre out of which each work arose. These overviews and sketches are designed to assist students in drawing historical distinctions and parallels between the preceding and succeeding units of the book, while discussion questions at the end of each unit allow students to apply the history of evolutionary theory to their own lives. Suggestions for further reading are also provided so that students can pursue their study of evolutionary theory outside of the classroom.
Features
- This is the only collection of primary source readings on the history of evolutionary theory from its roots in Classical Greece to the present.
- Chapter overviews place each article within historical context, taking into account the science, politics, and culture of the time.
- Each article is introduced with a biographical sketch of its author.
- Discussion questions and suggestions for further readings appear at the ends of every chapter.
Reviews
"The idea of a topical discussion of evolutionary theory based on actual writings of the time is excellent and adds an important and often overlooked historical context to the discourse." --Agustin Fuentes, University of Notre Dame
"[Readings in the History of Evolutionary Theory] represents an original contribution to the history of evolutionary thought, and its inclusion of and commentary on historical texts make this a valuable classroom resource..."--David Daegling, University of Florida
About the Author(s)
Ronald K. Wetherington (Ph.D., University of Michigan) is Professor of Anthropology at Southern Methodist University, where he is also the Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence. He is the author of Understanding Human Evolution (West Publishing, 1992) and The Ceramics of Kaminaljuyu, Guatemala (Penn State University Press, 1978).
