Darwin’s Origins 150 Reading Group

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species”, the Centre for Behaviour and Evolution at Newcastle University, in collaboration with the Literary and Philosophical Society, organised the Darwin’s Origins 150 Reading Group to discuss this significant and influential book. Over a number of weeks, we discussed the book’s content, the context in which it was written, and its relevance to modern-day biology and society. Each discussion was guided by an expert in evolutionary biology from Newcastle University.

Each session took place on a Wednesday, either in the afternoon at Newcastle University, or in the evening at the Lit & Phil. Participants were expected to have read the relevant chapters either in the first or second edition of ‘The Origin’ before each session so that we could have an informed and lively discussion.

If you would like to buy a copy of the book, you can find it in most good bookshops . The first edition can also be accessed free of charge at The Complete Works of Charles Darwin Online, as can all other works by Charles Darwin.

Venues:

Wednesday afternoons (4:00pm):
Newcastle University
Robinson Library Committee Room

Wednesday evenings (7:30pm):
Lit & Phil - Upstairs Committee Room
23 Westgate Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 1SE
Web: www.litandphil.org.uk

Dates and chapter assignments:

Wed 04 Feb 2009:

  • Introduction
  • Chapter 1: Variation under domestication
  • Chapter 2: Variation under nature

Wed 18 Feb 2009:

  • Chapter 3: Struggle for existence
  • Chapter 4: Natural selection

Wed 04 Mar 2009:

  • Chapter 5: Laws of variation
  • Chapter 6: Difficulties of theory

Wed 18 Mar 2009:

  • Chapter 7 : Instinct
  • Chapter 8: Hybridism

UNIVERSITY EASTER BREAK

Wed 22 Apr 2009:

  • Chapter 9: On the imperfection of the geological record
  • Chapter 10: On the geological succession of organic beings

Wed 06 May 2009:

  • Chapter 11: Geographical distribution
  • Chapter 12: Geographical distribution – continued

Wed 20 May 2009:

  • Chapter 13: Mutual affinities of organic beings: Morphology: Embryology: Rudimentary organs
  • Chapter 14: Recapitulation and conclusion

Wed 27 May 2009:

  • General Discussion of the entire book and its impacts.