H. G. Bronn, Ernst Haeckel, and the origins of German Darwinism

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The German translation of Darwin's The Origin of Species was published in 1860 by Heinrich Georg Bronn, a notable paleontologist whose work paralleled Darwin's. Bronn's translation, which included his own notes, significantly influenced how Darwin's theory was understood by German biologists. This process involved more than just translating words; it reshaped the discourse around biology in Germany. Sander Gliboff explores the translation's impact, highlighting how it served both Bronn's and Darwin's objectives while challenging German scholars to rethink concepts in morphology, systematics, and paleontology. Gliboff traces Bronn's influence through Ernst Haeckel, Darwin's prominent supporter in Germany, who learned from Bronn's version. Contrary to common interpretations, Gliboff argues that German authors were not trying to conform Darwin's ideas to outdated romantic philosophies but were actively engaged in his revolutionary vision for biology. He emphasizes that Bronn and Haeckel faced significant interpretive challenges, both in language and conceptually, particularly regarding the origins of variation and the balance between creativity and constraint in evolution. Gliboff notes that contemporary evolutionists still wrestle with similar questions, highlighting an ongoing process of translating and interpreting Darwin's work.