Darwinian myths
Subtitle: the legends and misuses of a theory
By: Edward Caudill.
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: University of Tennessee Press
Published: 1997
Place of publication: Knoxville
Language: eng
Number of pages: 184
Subjects: Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882 -- Legends; Evolution (Biology) -- Philosophy; Social Darwinism
Description: In Darwinian Myths, Edward Caudill examines the ability of Darwin's theory to inspire legends, focusing particularly on the impact of social Darwinism on popular culture. This compelling testimony to the power of myth shows the ways in which, over the years, Darwin's ideas - twisted, truncated, and misapplied - have been appropriated by individuals, governments, and cultural elites to lend credibility to xenophobic, racist, and imperialist political movements and policies.

Caudill uses newspaper and magazine accounts and correspondence to trace the myth-making and promotional efforts of Darwin himself, as well as the transformation of his empirically based theory into the philosophy of social Darwinism.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [169]-177) and index.