Darwin and Modern Science

"Darwin and Modern Science" by A. C. Seward is a collection of essays created to honor Charles Darwin's 100th birthday and the 50th anniversary of his groundbreaking book. Featuring writings from many educated people, the book shares different views on how Darwin's work has changed science, especially in biology, philosophy, and how we study humans. Early on, the book explains why it was written and the hard work put in by scholars. A preface tells us their goal: to not only celebrate Darwin but to also think about how scientists at the time viewed his ideas. A letter from Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker points out how important the essays are for understanding how Darwin's ideas relate to earlier thinkers, as well as the development of ideas about natural selection, change in living things over time, and how Darwin's work affects different fields of study. These first parts set the scene for a detailed look at Darwin's lasting effect on the world.