Darwin's Birthday Celebration

Darwin and Darwinism

Photo Credit: Charles Darwin at age 51. From Wikipedia.

Charles Darwin (1809-1882) is widely considered one of the greatest intellectual revolutionaries of all time. The revolution that bears his name is still in progress. This web-site aims to make his accomplishments more widely available and better understood. It provides materials, including background, context and commentary, for the study of his life, works, and influence.


Upcoming Events


July 1, 2008

A Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Publication of the Origin of Species
Location: San Francisco County Fair Building (former Hall of Flowers) adjacent to the Strybing Arboretum.
Time: 3:00 P.M.
Anniversary of the Reading of the Joint Communication by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace to the Linnean Society of London. Featuring a lecture on that event by Michael T. Ghiselin.


Spring 2009

"Evolve", a city-wide celebration of the bicentennial of the publication of The Origin of Species. Several institutions are involved, including the California Academy of Sciences, The Commonwealth Club, the Jewish Community Center, the San Francisco Public Library, the Strybing Arboretum.


August 13-16, 2009

"Darwin and the Galapagos" — a scholarly symposium to be held at the California Academy of Sciences.


Documents


  • Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. 1858.
    On the Tendency of Species to Form Varieties; and on the Perpetuation of Varieties and Species by Natural Means of Selection. Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society (Zoology) 3:45-62. With an introduction and commentary by Michael T. Ghiselin. The reading of this joint communication by Darwin and Wallace on July 1, 1858 may be considered the "opening shot" in the Darwinian Revolution.
    Download PDF (332kb) »

  • Darwin: A Reader's Guide, by Michael T. Ghiselin.
    (Currently in preparation.) In four parts: 1) an essay on Darwin's life and works, 2) a detailed chronology of Darwin's life, 3) a biographical dictionary, and 4) extensive bibliographies including secondary literature as well as Darwin's own publications.

    • This site is sponsored by the California Academy of Sciences, and its Center for the History and Philosophy of Science, chaired by Michael T. Ghiselin.