Alfred Russel Wallace: o patinho feio desprezado pela Nomenklatura científica

quinta-feira, dezembro 11, 2008

Em 2009 nós iremos testemunhar em todo o mundo, o maior festival de celebrações de louvaminhice, beija-mão e beija-pé de Darwin. Todavia, há um personagem incômodo na vida de Darwin, e que a Nomenklatura científica não sabe como se desvencilhar: Alfred Russel Wallace.

Eu ainda não localizei o artigo, mas me parece que foi Kutschera que escreveu um artigo sobre os dois trabalhos apresentados à Sociedade Linneana, e concluiu que o trabalho de Wallace, em termos heurísticos, era superior ao de Darwin. Uau!

Para reparar esta injustiça contra Wallace (ué, Dennett, ele também não teve a maior idéia que toda a humanidade já teve???) cometida pela Nomenklatura científica internacional, recomendo o seguinte livro sobre Alfred Russel Wallace, co-descobridor do conceito/princípio da seleção natural junto com Charles Robert Darwin.

Sorry, periferia, mas está em inglês!

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Natural Selection and Beyond: The Intellectual Legacy of Alfred Russel Wallace

Edited by Charles H. Smith and George Baccaloni

Price: £30.00 (hardback)
ISBN-13: 978-0-19-923916-0
Publication date: 27 November 2008
448 pages, 30 B&W halftones plus 8pp color plate section, 246x171 mm


Description

2008 is the 150th anniversary of the presentation to the Linnean Society of the joint paper by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace outlining the concept of evolution by natural selection.

At the time of his death, Wallace was probably the most famous scientist in the world. However, the range of his intellectual legacy has not - until now - been widely appreciated.

This collection of essays covers not only Wallace's contributions to biology and natural history, but also his influential work in other disciplines: from biogeographical studies and astrobiology, to subjects as far-ranging as glaciology, land reform, anthropology, and epidemiology.

Reveals Wallace's interest and support of spiritualism, socialism, and the rights of the ordinary person.

Examines the impact of Wallace's ideas - revealing how his innovative ideas are still being explored and elaborated upon today.

Alfred Russel Wallace (1823 - 1913) was one of the late nineteenth century's most potent intellectual forces. His link to Darwin as co-discoverer of the principle of natural selection alone would have secured him a place in history, but he went on to complete work entitling him to recognition as the 'father' of modern biogeographical studies, as a pioneer in the field of astrobiology, and as an important contributor to subjects as far-ranging as glaciology, land reform, anthropology and ethnography, and epidemiology. Beyond this, many are coming to regard Wallace as the pre-eminent field biologist, collector, and naturalist of tropical regions. Add to that the fact that he was a vocal supporter of spiritualism, socialism, and the rights of the ordinary person, and it quickly becomes apparent that Wallace was a man of extraordinary breadth of attention. Yet his work in many of these areas is still not well known, and still less recognized is his relevance to current day research almost 100 years after his death.

This rich collection of writings by more than twenty historians and scientists reviews and reflects on the work that made Wallace a famous man in his own time, and a figure of extraordinary influence and continuing interest today.

Readership: Academics and students in a variety of disciplines in the natural and social sciences, reaching beyond the history of science to include biological sciences, philosophy, the history of ideas, and Victorian studies. Also of interest to the general reader interested in the history of science, evolution, and in Wallace's legacy.

Authors, editors, and contributors

Edited by Charles H. Smith, Professor of Library Public Services, Western Kentucky University and George Beccaloni, Curator, Natural History Museum, London.

Charles H. Smith mantém um site sobre Alfred Russel Wallace que contraria a História da Ciência consensual (mainstream é mais chique).