MYTH BUSTING Charles Darwin's 'ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES'

Charles Darwin’s ‘On the Origin of Species’ is considered by many to be one of the most important scientific texts ever written, but how many amongst us have actually sat down and read it?
First published in 1859, almost 30 years after Darwin’s world expedition on the HMS Beagle, many theories are touted as to why he waited so long, but what was the real reason: Heresy? His religious wife? Or the fear of being wrong?
There are also many myths about the man himself; That Charles coined the phrase ‘Survival of the Fittest’. That he stole the concept of natural selection from his contemporary Alfred Russel Wallace and that he converted to Christianity on his deathbed.
None of those are true and even the famous image of the ascent of man ‘The March of Progress’ (used here) is a much simplified, and misleading depiction of Darwin’s theory. So if you think you know Darwin’s 'On the Origin of Species' and you believe it’s all just about evolution, you’re in for a surprise.
Professor Joe Cain will show us how we have missed some of the things Darwin cared most about. He’ll take us on a journey of discovery through some of those buried themes and the hopes Darwin had for his work. We’ll learn about what he tried hard to avoid and what he changed in response to complaints.

Joe Cain is Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology at University College London. He researches Darwin, history of dinosaurs, and legacies of eugenics. He was trained in the United States at University of Maryland and University of Minnesota. He worked for several years in publishing, and served as a Visiting Professorship at University of Oklahoma. Joe’s recent writing includes work on the Horniman Museum, Jokes in science, and the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs. He also hosts the podcast, WeAreSTS.
On the night there will be free copies of the great text itself for some lucky audience members to win - You have to be in it to win it! What a way to spend a Bank Holiday Monday!

Our presentations take place upstairs in the Nightingale Room at the Grand Central Pub, opposite Brighton Station.

• DOORS OPEN: 6:30pm (£5 on the door)
• TALK STARTS: 7:00pm
• AUDIENCE Q&A: 8:00pm

Brighthink is a non-profit organisation, none of our invited speakers charge for their time and all proceeds go towards running costs that allow us to put on these events for the public.

Host or Publisher Brighton Skeptics in the Pub