Posts Tagged ‘Enlightenment’

Nov

Charles Darwin’s New Origins Spark Historic Controversy

Posted by: Trish in English History, Historical Events, Historical Ships, History Blog, Modern History, Personalities in History, Philosophy, World History

Charles Darwin - 1854 Few books have played such a large role in history as Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, except perhaps the Bible and the Koran. Published on November 24, 1859, Darwin’s book discussed such new ideas as natural selection, the survival of the fittest and of course, the natural evolutionary progression of homo sapiens. This non religious version of reality sparked a controversy that the world had never known.

Darwin’s research for the book had taken place on the HMS Beagle years before. As he traveled to the Galapagos Islands and other exotic places, he made observations on the nature of environment and the effect of climate on the development of species. He had a theory that animals were not merely created by an invisible being but they progressed along a very long line of evolution. Their “origins” were in the prehistoric world. Pure heresy of course.

That may be why it took Darwin several years before he spoke and wrote publicly on his theory of evolution. The first edition consisted of only 1, 250 copies. A second printing took place in December adding an additional 3,000 copies as well as a German translation to the controversy.

For forward thinking Victorians, Darwin’s book was the must have item of the year. Those who embraced the humanist enlightenment sentiments of the previous century felt compelled to explore such new “scientific” ideas. Science was on the rise in the mid to late 19^th century and the scientific method found favor among academics.

HMS Beagle (centre) from an 1841 watercolour by Owen Stanley, painted during Darwin's third voyage while surveying Australia There was talk of a knighthood for Darwin before the church interposed. Darwin’s peers reacted in one of two ways: in favor or against the concept that man was descended from apes. Less than a year after the book was published, the term “Darwinism” was coined.

This was the era of tea rooms and private clubs, public libraries and the graduation of public space into a permanent part of society. Many people didn’t quite understand the concept as it was still so new, but it didn’t stop them from trying. The book was read and debated, sparked both cries of heresy and cries of progress. Darwin had changed human perception forever, cast doubt into tightly fixed views. Pulled a Copernicus if you will.

If you were alive in 1859, you had heard of Darwin’s book on the natural order of things. And of course, if you are alive today, You’ve probably heard of it too. Charles Darwin’s theories have enjoyed over a century of debate and study. Despite the fossil record, the work of anthropologists and the logical nature of the idea, many still refuse to accept Darwin’s theories. Because of this, there seems no let up in the debate or argument that started over 140 years ago. Sometimes a book is more than a book. Sometimes it’s the start of an historical movement.

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Tags: 1841, 1859, 19th century, Charles Darwin, Darwin, Enlightenment, Galapagos Islands, History DVDs, History Store, HMS Beagle, homo sapiens, Humanists, November 24, Origin of the species, Origins, Owen Stanley, replica guns, Replica Swords, scale model kits, theory of evolution, Victorian Era, Victorian era. Origin of Species

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Oct

John Locke’s Influence on the Enlightenment

Posted by: Trish in American War of Independence, Colonial History, English History, French History, History Blog, History of England, Personalities in History, Philosophy, The French Revolution, World History

John Locke - 1697 Few educators in history have made such a profound effect on the shape of the future as John Locke. His practical, down to earth approach on education and his belief in the folly in the practice of divine kinship did much to shape the course of the Enlightenment period and the basis of modern European thought.

Locke was born in 1632 into an upper middle class family in England and studied medicine at Oxford. Early on Locke found himself disagreeing with professors who insisted on teaching the ancient Greek philosophers. He was more interested in newer theories and had a penchant for the works of Rene Descartes. Through his friendship with the mechanical philosopher Robert Boyle and the famed scientific rebel Isaac Newton, Locke found logic in the new theories floating around in the late 17^th century.

Soon after graduating from college, Locke came under the employ of the Earl of Shaftsbury and assisted him in a number of non medical matters including the administration of his estate, various business matters and also acted as his political advisor. The earl enjoyed Locke’s unique (for the time) views on the freedom of religion, the unbelief in absolutism and the desire for a democratic governing body for the country.

John Locke - An Essay Concerning Human Understanding In 1682, Locke’s anti royal sentiments resulted in his banishment to Holland. It was in exile that Locke penned his influential work “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding.” In 1688, the Glorious Revolution in which William of Orange overthrew the current English king, James II. This meant Locke could return to his homeland without fear of persecution or prosecution and so he did.

In 1690, Locke published his two treaties on government which were considered influential works in the revolutions of the 18^th century, namely America and France. Locke argued that revolution against tyranny was acceptable to bring legitimate rule to a nation. He also explained his thoughts on education which involved learning from experience not just because we exist.

During the 1690s Locke worked for the new British government in a number of positions including commissioner of plantations and trade. He continued with his theoretical writings, publishing on religion, government, ethics and education.

Locke retired to the country to live with friends and passed away in 1704, long before many of his works would influence the birth of a democratic America and the overthrow of royal power in France. But without Locke’s suggesting divine kingship as wrong and the rights of the citizens as the main work of any government, those two revolutions may have taken very different forms. His work on education would underlie the public school system in Britain and his thoughts on theology helped others find their own path to religious freedom. Locke was one of many that created the bedrock for the Enlightenment period.