MULTIPLE DARWINS – ON THE MYTH-PRODUCING RECEPTION OF A NATURAL HISTORIAN

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.