Columns:: Worth repeating

since 12/15/98

Columns::February 3, 2003

Worth repeating

Edward J. Larson of the School of Law and the department of history gave a lecture for the department of plant biology on the role of the Galapagos Islands in the history of science. Some excerpts:
“The Galapagos Islands’ harsh terrain, inhuman desolation and strange wildlife became their permanent curse for [Herman] Melville--because he did not see change in nature--but became a sort of increased fascination for European science from the time the buccaneers began writing about them in the 1600s to the first visits there by trained naturalists in the late 1700s. In that time, before evolutionary thinking enlivened natural history, change did not feature prominently in the scientific world view. Biological and geological features appeared fixed at best; at worst, they had deteriorated from their created goodness.
“While this left a seemingly peaceable kingdom in western Europe and North America, softened by human toil and common grace, nothing softened the pre-Darwinian Galapagos Islands from their fiery creation. More than anything, it was this that perked scientific interest in the Galapagos Islands before Darwin made them a showcase for evolution. Indeed, in the decades before Darwin’s visit, a steady stream of European naturalists and collectors passed through the Galapagos archipelago and noted its singularity. Seen through the eyes of pre-evolutionary science, the place made no sense at all. . . .
“It was partly these reports of biological and geological novelties that placed the archipelago on the itinerary of Darwin’s voyage aboard the British survey ship Beagle. Due to the work of earlier naturalists, Darwin went to the Galapagos with his eyes wide open. . . .”

--Beth Roberts

UGA Today supports QuickTime, Flash, RealPlayer and Acrobat Reader (PDF files).
Download information about these plug-ins.
Affiliate icons for UGA Today

COLUMNS ] UGA Today ] Subscribe ] News Bureau ]
Office of Public Affairs Directory ] Photo Services ]
Broadcast, Video & Photography ] Master Calendar]
Columns ] Georgia Magazine ]Visitors Center ]
UGA Home ] Alumni ] Admissions ] UGA Directories ]
Sports ] Weather ] Search UGA sites ]

Columns is produced by the UGA News Service, a unit of UGA Public Affairs.
Beth Roberts: Columns editor, Juliett Dinkins: Columns managing editor,
Janet Beckley: Columns art director. Peter Frey: Columns photo editor

Questions or comments should be directed to columns@uga.edu