Darwin's Corals: A New Model of Evolution and the Tradition of Natural History

by Horst Bredekamp

To this day Charles Darwin’s evolutionary theory of the "survival of the fittest" has been visualized with the universal model of a tree of life. But early on in Darwin’s thinking the coral provided a fascinating alternative to the tree as a depiction of the evolution of the species. Horst Bredekamp shows how Darwin, a coral enthusiast and collector, found in it a more adequate illustration of evolution through natural It grows anarchically in all directions and no longer upholds mankind as the "crown of creation." Using this example Darwin is proving himself to be both a destroyer and consummator of traditional natural philosophy. Since antiquity the coral had been a symbol of nature as a whole.

128 pages, Hardcover

Published September 23, 2019

About the author

Horst Bredekamp ist ein deutscher Kunsthistoriker und Bildwissenschaftler.

Reviews

[Shuhui Shen]

Haven't finished the whole book. Definitely worth reading

[Kawakoala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, readable translation. Some illuminating observations, but main argument is perhaps overstated given the nature of the evidence (fig. 36 particularly unconvincing). That distracts from other observations. How might Darwin’s understanding and interests in plants relate to his rejection and eventual acceptance of the tree model?