Darwin and the Tree of Life

What is it about?

This article brings to life the mental universe of Charles Darwin, who, in the image of the "tree of life", found a suitable expression for his view of nature as a magnificient, interconnected whole. Demonstrating the importance of time and place for shaping scientific theories, this study shows how religion and poetry contributed to modern evolutionary science.

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Why is it important?

Drawing on two academic traditions, the history of science and the study of religions, this article offers a new perspective on the complex relationship between religion and evolutionary science. Tracing the background of the evolutionary "tree of life" image, it demonstrates how Darwin, just as he was undermining the religious tradition, also borrowed directly from that same tradition.