The paper first sketches a psychological reconstruction of the logic of Darwin’s discovery. Characteristic mental analogies can be revealed in the structure of the theory with the emphasis on small changes and constant change replacing catastrophes. Another important aspect is the motivating forces in the personality of Darwin and their relationship to his personal fate. From a perspective of present day psychology, Darwin was an extreme systematizer. One could place him along the much debated autism continuum exactly due to his taxonomic passion. At the same time, the emphasis on constant change connects the taxonomy with dynamicity. The paper also touches upon the rival theories of Darwin’s illness. It concentrates on the theory of Bowlby emphasizing the role of attachment dramas in intellectual achievements of the 19th century.
Connected to the 2009 Darwin-anniversaries, the article investigates the influence of anniversaries and commemorations on the production of myths connected to major figures in science. First, the still widespread myth concerning the role of the Darwin-finches in the discovery process of Darwin’s theory of natural selection is examined. Second, the myth that Darwin avoided publishing his theory for many years is scrutinized, together with an analysis of H. E. Gruber’s influential monograph on Darwin on Man. Finally, elements of the received view on Darwin and the reception of his theories in history of science are summarized, and the difference of this image from the public Darwin-image is examined. The reasons for and significance of this difference is explored.
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