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RIP: Stephen Jay Gould

Posted by chrisd on from the becoming-what-you-study dept.

gdyas writes: " Reuters reports that famed paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould has died today at age 60 of cancer. Famous for his many essays on natural history, modifications to Darwin's theories, and as the winner of the American Book Award for "The Mismeasure of Man", a history of intelligence testing, Gould was and remains a profound influence on biology." CNN also has a piece on him.

4 of 269 comments (clear)

  1. Another (Longer) Obit by jhiv · · Score: 5, Informative

    There is longer and more complete obituary at the New York Times.

  2. Re:The world is a little darker by Walter+Wart · · Score: 5, Informative
    For those who aren't familiar with his work, Dr. Gould did more than write "The Mismeasure of Man" although that was an excellent piece of work.

    He was also Professor of Biology, Geology and History of Science at Harvard. For many years he wrote a wide-ranging and fascinating column, "This View of Life", in Natural History magazine. He was tireless in his efforts at promoting the teaching of science in the public schools and became the bane of the so-to-speak Scientific Creationists.

    And that is ignoring his greatest accomplishments. He was one of the great lights of evolutionary biology in the 20th century. His work with Eldredge (Eldridge?) on punctuated equilibrium led to some of the most fertile research on the rates and methods by which change happens in the natural world.

    Again, he will be missed.

    --
    The man who never alters his opinion is like the stagnant water and breeds Reptiles of the Mind -- William Blake
  3. He finished his book! by possible · · Score: 5, Informative
    Gould has been sick for a long time. He managed to stay alive long enough to see published his magnum opus, "The Structure of Evolutionary Theory."

    From the recent interview with Gould (conducted March 15, 2002):

    Now, Mr. Gould is trying to write himself into the illustrious annals of scientific history. This month, Harvard University Press is publishing his 1,464-page magnum opus, The Structure of Evolutionary Theory, a work 20 years in the making that seeks nothing less than to reformulate Darwin's theory of evolution.
  4. Re:Harsh criticism of Gould by blamanj · · Score: 5, Informative

    It should be noted that the authors of the letter quoted above were not penning an unbiased critique of Gould, they had an axe to grind.

    Specifically, Gould had criticized their book, The Adapted Mind, in an earlier NYRB essay.

    Those familiar with NYRB know that once someone's pet theory has been criticized, the letter writing often takes the form of personal attacks and accusations, so I'd take the above with a grain of salt.