A.S. ByattA.S. ByattAngels and InsectsAngels and InsectsScience and Society in Science and Society in

Morpho EugeniaMorpho Eugenia

A.S. ByattA.S. Byatt (1936-)(1936-)

Broad literary and scientific Broad literary and scientific

interestsinterests Bridges Victorian and Bridges Victorian and

contemporary writing contemporary writing ‚‚self-conscious realist‘self-conscious realist‘ Often merges naturalism, realism and Often merges naturalism, realism and

fantasyfantasy

Byatt on the siginificance of Byatt on the siginificance of science:science:

““We read science out of concern for our own We read science out of concern for our own health and environment. But I think we also health and environment. But I think we also read scientific books because they are the best read scientific books because they are the best way we now have of answering the perennial way we now have of answering the perennial human need for understanding, contemplation human need for understanding, contemplation of our place in the order of things, a sense of of our place in the order of things, a sense of complexity and mystery, an inkling perhaps of complexity and mystery, an inkling perhaps of the order of those things which are not the order of those things which are not ourselves.” (ourselves.” (New StatesmanNew Statesman, 10 April 200), 10 April 200)

Science in the Victorian Science in the Victorian PeriodPeriod

Cultural dominance of the life sciences Cultural dominance of the life sciences developingdeveloping

Natural history most prominentNatural history most prominent Theories still argued from historical Theories still argued from historical

recordrecord Devoted to moral development Devoted to moral development Closely connected with general Closely connected with general

philosophical interestphilosophical interest

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (1744-1829)(1744-1829) ‘‘Transformist’: Transformist’:

believed that living organisms believed that living organisms

develop into more complex develop into more complex

forms through the inheritance forms through the inheritance

of aquired characteristicsof aquired characteristics

Robert Chambers:Robert Chambers: The Vestiges The Vestiges of Creationof Creation (1844) (1844)

‘‘Law of development’ Law of development’ Mankind has evolvedMankind has evolved

from the lower animalsfrom the lower animals

DarwinismDarwinism

Charles Darwin, The Origin of SpeciesCharles Darwin, The Origin of Species (1859): Evolution by natural selection(1859): Evolution by natural selection

Links geological record with a theory of Links geological record with a theory of species changespecies change

Evidence of shaping time-consciousnessEvidence of shaping time-consciousness

in Victorian Periodin Victorian Period A hypothesis A hypothesis no scientific verification! no scientific verification!

Idea of Natural SelectionIdea of Natural Selection

1.1. organisms varyorganisms vary

2.2. their offspring can inherit these their offspring can inherit these variationsvariations

3.3. variations may operate to the variations may operate to the benefit of individualsbenefit of individuals

Implications for 19th century Implications for 19th century belief systembelief system

No divine creatorNo divine creator Man is put back into natureMan is put back into nature Humans are no longer superiorHumans are no longer superior

Feeling of Feeling of ‘disinheritance’‘disinheritance’Loss of certaintyLoss of certainty

ReceptionReception

Was easily absorbedWas easily absorbed Demonstration of how the mind of a Demonstration of how the mind of a

scientist workedscientist worked Helped to establish science as a cultureHelped to establish science as a culture Imaginative narrative: comparable to Imaginative narrative: comparable to

other forms of narrativeother forms of narrative

Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism

Biological Theories to interpret human Biological Theories to interpret human communitiescommunities

Biologist is concerned with general, Biologist is concerned with general, philosophical explanation of the worldphilosophical explanation of the world

Used to legitimate the superiority of ‚the Used to legitimate the superiority of ‚the fittest‘fittest‘

T H Huxley T H Huxley (1876)(1876)

„„Biology is the study of all Biology is the study of all

phenomena exhibited by phenomena exhibited by

living things.“living things.“

licenses biologist's exploration of licenses biologist's exploration of politics, philosophy or education politics, philosophy or education

Herbert Spencer: Herbert Spencer: ‘The Social ‘The Social Organism’ Organism’ (1860)(1860)

"A social organism,like an "A social organism,like an

individual organism, individual organism,

undergoes modifications until undergoes modifications until

it comes into equilibrium with it comes into equilibrium with

environing conditions; and environing conditions; and

thereupon continues without further thereupon continues without further change of structure." change of structure."

DegenerationDegeneration

Pessimistic outlook for the future of Pessimistic outlook for the future of Western civilization Western civilization

A class of degenerate people may attack A class of degenerate people may attack social normssocial norms

Justifications for attacks on modern art Justifications for attacks on modern art and for eugenic programsand for eugenic programs

EugenicsEugenics

Usual social policies interfere with natural Usual social policies interfere with natural selectionselection

Human reproduction must be monitoredHuman reproduction must be monitored ‚‚genius‘ and ‚talent‘ are hereditarygenius‘ and ‚talent‘ are hereditary Selective breeding must be considered Selective breeding must be considered

for human reproductionfor human reproduction

Science and Literature in the Science and Literature in the Victorian PeriodVictorian Period

Increasing market for popularized Increasing market for popularized versions of scientific knowledgeversions of scientific knowledge

Mutual creative exchange of scientists Mutual creative exchange of scientists and novelistsand novelists

Imagination occupies a crucial role for Imagination occupies a crucial role for knowledge knowledge

‘‘Two cultures’ debateTwo cultures’ debate

Struggle to establish science in educationStruggle to establish science in education

HuxleyHuxley: : Only Only life science reveals truthlife science reveals truth

ArnoldArnold: : Knowledge must refer to Knowledge must refer to Classical LiteratureClassical Literature