callow02

Charles Robert Darwin 1840, by George Richmond

The Life and Work of Charles Darwin/ R.S. Callow

North City Library, Rochdale Road, Manchester, M9 4AF
10 Mondays 10.30 − 12.30, 18th January −22nd March 2010 (inclusive)
Fee £55
Book by 8th January

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You may also download an outline of the course and a book list

(3) Download Course Outline and Book List

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Course Outline. Charles Darwin was one of the most famous scientists of the modern era. His theory of evolution by natural selection is widely accepted amongst scientists who continue to gather evidence in its support. Nevertheless its social and moral implications remain disturbing and controversial. By contrast, Darwin himself was a genial, caring friend and father and a pillar of Victorian respectability. He shied away from controversy, especially in public. This course will probe the nature of the man and consider how it influenced his approach to the gathering and interpretation of evidence.

The aim is to examine the development of Darwin’s ideas in the context of their time. In the process, we shall investigate Darwin’s family background, his experiences at university and his discoveries during the voyage of HMS Beagle. We shall also look into some of his voluminous correspondence, not only with distinguished scientists all over the world but also with ordinary people many of whom were accomplished amateur naturalists. We shall explore the progression of Darwin’s theories through his published works, including not only the celebrated On the Origin of Species and The Descent of Man but also lesser known books such as those on Climbing Plants and Earthworms.

Each session will begin with a presentation exploring some aspect of Darwin’s life and its contribution to his thinking. It will be followed by discussion of a topic, based on reading matter chosen at the previous meeting. During these discussions, we shall attempt to evaluate the relevance of Darwin’s ideas not only to his contemporaries but also to our own lives. Your participation will be encouraged. Lectures will be supported by supplementary notes and by Power-Point presentations which will include graphical and textual evidence. Discussions will be informed by the lectures, recommended books and supplementary notes issued in advance. Participants will be encouraged to prepare for topics under discussion, to form their own views and to discuss them with others.

Lectures

1.    Moral and academic foundations
2.    HMS Beagle, the Argentine and its Antediluvian fauna
3.    Brazil and Tierra del Fuego − encounters with human diversity
4.    Mountains that Rise and Fall
5.    Fame and family life
6.    Darwin and Wallace −two men with the same big idea
7.    On the Origin of Species
8.    Champions and Adversaries −The Oxford Debate
9.    The Descent of Man
10.    The quintessential Victorian Naturalist