Abstracts (250 words maximum)
for this session
are welcome.
Deadline: February 27, 2013
Please send the proposals by mail to:
Clara Florensa
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Miquel Carandell
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Centre for History of Science (CEHIC-UAB)
While the genesis and early development of evolutionary
theories in 19
th century Europe has received a
great deal of scholarly attention, the literature decreases as
we enter the 20th century. Far fewer contributions have been
made in this period and even less when we enter the second
half of the century. Histories of the theory of evolution in
the 20
th century focus then on the emerging of the
Modern Synthesis of Evolution, and disregard the other
theories discussed and used at the time.
Through the study of the circulation of evolutionary theories
in Spain during Francoism we are mapping a political, social
and religious use of the theory of evolution. Spanish
palaeontologists presented a particular version of
evolutionary theories that fitted well with the Catholic
political context.
We aim to build a session on studies of the theory of
evolution in different European countries during the period
that corresponds to the Franco Regime (1939-1975), in order to
be able to establish resemblances, differences and influences,
and start a collaboration to build a comparative history in
evolutionary theory of that time, which is lacking at the
moment.