Stefan Bernhardt-Radu

Profile

I studied environmental history and the history of medicine before embarking on a PhD in the history and philosophy of science.

My PhD examines Julian Huxley’s physiological genetics. In an era of calls for an ‘Extended Evolutionary Synthesis’ (EES) that proposes to go beyond a focus on evolution and genetics (or ‘the’ ‘Modern Synthesis’ [MS]), beyond, that is, static genes towards developmental processes, I show that we need to bear in mind which synthesis we criticise. Through an analysis of the development of Huxley’s thinking, I show that his version of the ‘Modern Synthesis’ – a term he coined – did not break with developmental and physiological aspects of biology, but were kept intact alongside evolution and genetics, to be pursued in a common framework.

More broadly, I argue against a ‘break’ between evolution and development in Huxley’s thinking and aims. Doing so, my thesis explores a different biology than the one commonly told by evolutionary synthesisers and proponents of the EES. We read about a group of Oxford biologists who saw evolution and development together and trained Huxley to do the same. We read about research in developmental biology at the Plymouth Marine Station and a formidable woman biologist who gave a name to a new experimental organism which Huxley and his pupils used in their research on physiological genetics. And we see that, while Huxley popularised genetics, he never forgot about physiology and development. Finally, his work was read by his pupils as embracing development and the importance of environment to understand organisms.

I thus contribute to the recent literature on epigenetics and organicism by showing that Huxley’s biology was inspired by similar frameworks. Indeed, his focus on genetics was part of his theory of knowledge, not of commitments about reality or about what the MS should be.

Research interests

History and Philosophy of Science

History of Organicist Thinking

History of Eugenics

Environmental History

History of Medicine

Qualifications

• MA History of Medicine
• BA History