The Intimate History of Evolution: The Huxleys 1825–1975

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1296th Ordinary General Meeting and Open Lecture of the Royal Society of NSW -- 4 August 2021
“The Intimate History of Evolution: The Huxleys 1825–1975”
Professor Alison Bashford FRSN FAHA FRHistS FBA

Timing Marks
00:00:00 Introduction to the Speaker: Dr Susan Pond AM FRSN, President, Royal Society of NSW
00:02:13 Presentation: Professor Alison Bashford FRSN FAHA
01:01:49 Question and Answer Session: moderated by Emeritus Professor Robert Clancy AM FRSN
01:18:55 Meeting Close: Dr Susan Pond Am FRSN, President, Royal Society of NSW

Summary:
At Life Magazine’s 1947 photoshoot, Julian Huxley self-consciously arranged himself in front of a portrait of his grandfather, Thomas Henry Huxley. In the foreground, a well-known mid-twentieth century science writer, zoologist, conservationist—that generation’s David Attenborough. In the background, a mid-nineteenth century natural scientist – Darwin’s most outspoken spokesman.

Between them, Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–1895) and Julian Huxley (1887–1975) communicated to the world the great modern story of the theory of evolution by natural selection. Together, they were ‘trustees of evolution’, a phrase that Julian Huxley often used to describe all of humankind, but which I use to describe the Huxleys themselves.

What is yielded by considering these two particular Huxleys together? They were driven by the same momentous questions, but in different eras. What is the nature of time and how old is the Earth itself? What is the connection and distinction between human history and natural history? How are humans animals and how are we not? What is the deep past and the distant future of humankind? Can and should we actively seek to improve future generations? What might the planet look like 10,000 years hence? Through and with these high-powered Huxleys, I can track the problems and wonders of the modern world that they themselves raised, postured, and pondered over lives that spanned 1825-1975.