Darwin in Russian Thought

Darwin in Russian Thought delves into the profound impact of Darwin's theory of evolution on Russian intellectual culture from the 1860s to the October Revolution. This meticulously researched work explores the diversity of Russian responses to Darwinism, highlighting its role in shaping scientific discourse and modern rationalist traditions in imperial Russia. The book offers a comprehensive chronological and thematic analysis, covering the initial reception of Darwin's ideas, their widespread influence across sciences, the waves of criticism they faced, and the rise of alternative evolutionary theories such as neo-Lamarckism and neo-Darwinism. With dedicated chapters on figures defending Darwinian orthodoxy, the various strands of anti-Darwinian thought, and attempts to integrate Darwinism with experimental biology, the study paints a vivid picture of the intellectual landscape. It also examines the radical intelligentsia’s ideological interpretations of Darwin's work and commemorations of his legacy, providing readers with a panoramic view of Russian Darwinism. This book is an essential resource for those interested in the intersections of science, philosophy, and culture in Russia’s pre-revolutionary period. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1988.