William Charles Wells (1757-1817) fue un médico escocés recordado por haber expuesto el primer postulado claro acerca de la selección natural como mecanismo evolutivo.[1] Aplicó esta idea a la explicación del origen de los colores de piel en las razas humanas.[2]
La idea de Wells
Wells fue el mayor de tres médicos británicos que expresaron teorías evolucionistas entre 1813 y 1819. Los otros fueron James Cowles Prichard y William Lawrence.
En 1813, un artículo de Wells fue leído en la Royal Society y publicado en 1818. Se trató de Two Essays... with some observations on the causes of the differences of colour and form between the white and negro races of men. By the Late W.C. Wells…with a Memoir of his life, written by himself. El objetivo era tratar de explicar cómo surgieron las razas humanas.[3][4][5] Luego de algunas reflexiones preliminares en torno a las razas humanas y a la domesticación de animales, expresó:
What was done for animals artificially] seems to be done with equal efficiency, though more slowly, by nature, in the formation of varieties of mankind, fitted for the country which they inhabit. Of the accidental varieties of man, which would occur among the first scattered inhabitants, some one would be better fitted than the others to bear the diseases of the country. This race would multiply while the others would decrease, and as the darkest would be the best fitted for the [African] climate, at length [they would] become the most prevalent, if not the only race.
Two essays: upon a single vision with two eyes, the other on dew (1818), Wells W.C.[6]
Charles Darwin y Alfred Russel Wallace no tuvieron noticia de este trabajo cuando publicaron sus teorías en 1858, pero más tarde Darwin aceptó:
In this paper he [Wells] distinctly recognizes the principle of natural selection, and this is the first recognition which has been indicated; but he applies it only to man, and to certain characters alone. After remarking that negroes and mulattoes enjoy an immunity from certain tropical diseases, he observes, firstly, that all animals tend to vary in some degree, and, secondly, that agriculturalists improve their domesticated animals by selection; and then he adds, but what is done in this latter case by art, seems to be done with equal efficacy, though more slowly, in the formation of varieties of mankind, fitted for the country which they inhabit.
The origin of species by means of natural selection (1886), Charles Darwin[7]
Por lo tanto, el crédito por la formulación de la hipótesis de la selección natural debe atribuirse a Wells más que a Edward Blyth o a Patrick Matthew. Pero esta formulación tenía un alcance muy restringido comparada con las teorías de Darwin y Wallace.
Referencias
Green J.H.S. 1957. William Charles Wells FRS (1757–1817). Nature179, 997-99.
Darwin, Charles 1866. The origin of species by means of natural selection. Murray, London, 4th and subsequent editions, in the preliminary 'Historical sketch'.
Wade N.J. 2003. Destined for distinguished oblivion: the scientific vision of William Charles Wells (1752–1817). Springer.
Wells, Kentwood D. 1973. William Charles Wells and the races of man. Isis64, 215.
Zirkle, Conrad 1941. Natural selection before the Origin of Species. Proc Am Phil Soc84, 71-123.
Wells W.C. 1818, Two essays: upon a single vision with two eyes, the other on dew. Constable, London. This contains an appendix entitled An account of a female of the white race of mankind, part of whose skin resembles that of a negro, with some observations on the cause of the differences in colour and form between the white and negro races of man. It is this last part which contains the idea of natural selection.
Darwin, Charles 1866. The origin of species by means of natural selection. Murray, London, 4th and subsequent editions, in the preliminary 'Historical sketch'.
Wikisource contiene obras originales de o sobre William Charles Wells.
Publicaciones
Wells W.C. 1814. An essay on dew. Taylor & Hessay, London.
Wells W.C. 1818. Two essays: upon a single vision with two eyes, the other on dew. Constable, London. Esta obra contiene el apéndice titulado An account of a female of the white race of mankind, part of whose skin resembles that of a negro, with some observations on the cause of the differences in colour and form between the white and negro races of man. En este apéndice aparece la hipótesis de la selección natural. - Electronic copy
Wells W.C.. 1811-1812. Transactions of a Society for the Promotion of Medical and Chirurgical Knowledge con los siguientes estudios:
Observations on Erysipelas.
An instance of an entire want of hair in the human body.
Observations on the dropsy which succeeds Scarlet Fever.
A case of Tetanus, with observations on the disease.
A case of aneurism of the Aorta, communicating with the Pulmonary artery.
A case of considerable enlargement of the Cœcum and Colon.
A case of extensive Gangrene of the cellular nembrane between the muscles and skin of the neck and chest.
On rheumatism of the heart.
On the presence of the red matter and serum of the blood in the urine of dropsy, which has not originated in Scarlet Fever.
Observations on Pulmonary Consumption and intermittent fever, chiefly as diseases opposed to each other; with an attempt to arrange several other diseases, according to the alliance or opposition which exists between them, and one or other of the two former.
Fuentes
Munk's Roll of the Royal College of Physicians
Dictionary of National Biography
James R.R. William Charles Wells. British Journal of Ophthalmology, November 1928.
Datos:Q3180413
Abril 09, 2022
william, charles, wells, 1757, 1817, médico, escocés, recordado, haber, expuesto, primer, postulado, claro, acerca, selección, natural, como, mecanismo, evolutivo, aplicó, esta, idea, explicación, origen, colores, piel, razas, humanas, Índice, idea, wells, ref. William Charles Wells 1757 1817 fue un medico escoces recordado por haber expuesto el primer postulado claro acerca de la seleccion natural como mecanismo evolutivo 1 Aplico esta idea a la explicacion del origen de los colores de piel en las razas humanas 2 Indice 1 La idea de Wells 2 Referencias 3 Publicaciones 4 FuentesLa idea de Wells EditarWells fue el mayor de tres medicos britanicos que expresaron teorias evolucionistas entre 1813 y 1819 Los otros fueron James Cowles Prichard y William Lawrence En 1813 un articulo de Wells fue leido en la Royal Society y publicado en 1818 Se trato de Two Essays with some observations on the causes of the differences of colour and form between the white and negro races of men By the Late W C Wells with a Memoir of his life written by himself El objetivo era tratar de explicar como surgieron las razas humanas 3 4 5 Luego de algunas reflexiones preliminares en torno a las razas humanas y a la domesticacion de animales expreso What was done for animals artificially seems to be done with equal efficiency though more slowly by nature in the formation of varieties of mankind fitted for the country which they inhabit Of the accidental varieties of man which would occur among the first scattered inhabitants some one would be better fitted than the others to bear the diseases of the country This race would multiply while the others would decrease and as the darkest would be the best fitted for the African climate at length they would become the most prevalent if not the only race Two essays upon a single vision with two eyes the other on dew 1818 Wells W C 6 Charles Darwin y Alfred Russel Wallace no tuvieron noticia de este trabajo cuando publicaron sus teorias en 1858 pero mas tarde Darwin acepto In this paper he Wells distinctly recognizes the principle of natural selection and this is the first recognition which has been indicated but he applies it only to man and to certain characters alone After remarking that negroes and mulattoes enjoy an immunity from certain tropical diseases he observes firstly that all animals tend to vary in some degree and secondly that agriculturalists improve their domesticated animals by selection and then he adds but what is done in this latter case by art seems to be done with equal efficacy though more slowly in the formation of varieties of mankind fitted for the country which they inhabit The origin of species by means of natural selection 1886 Charles Darwin 7 Por lo tanto el credito por la formulacion de la hipotesis de la seleccion natural debe atribuirse a Wells mas que a Edward Blyth o a Patrick Matthew Pero esta formulacion tenia un alcance muy restringido comparada con las teorias de Darwin y Wallace Referencias Editar Green J H S 1957 William Charles Wells FRS 1757 1817 Nature 179 997 99 Darwin Charles 1866 The origin of species by means of natural selection Murray London 4th and subsequent editions in the preliminary Historical sketch Wade N J 2003 Destined for distinguished oblivion the scientific vision of William Charles Wells 1752 1817 Springer Wells Kentwood D 1973 William Charles Wells and the races of man Isis 64 215 Zirkle Conrad 1941 Natural selection before the Origin of Species Proc Am Phil Soc 84 71 123 Wells W C 1818 Two essays upon a single vision with two eyes the other on dew Constable London This contains an appendix entitled An account of a female of the white race of mankind part of whose skin resembles that of a negro with some observations on the cause of the differences in colour and form between the white and negro races of man It is this last part which contains the idea of natural selection Darwin Charles 1866 The origin of species by means of natural selection Murray London 4th and subsequent editions in the preliminary Historical sketch Wikisource contiene obras originales de o sobre William Charles Wells Publicaciones EditarWells W C 1814 An essay on dew Taylor amp Hessay London Wells W C 1818 Two essays upon a single vision with two eyes the other on dew Constable London Esta obra contiene el apendice titulado An account of a female of the white race of mankind part of whose skin resembles that of a negro with some observations on the cause of the differences in colour and form between the white and negro races of man En este apendice aparece la hipotesis de la seleccion natural Electronic copy Wells W C 1811 1812 Transactions of a Society for the Promotion of Medical and Chirurgical Knowledge con los siguientes estudios Observations on Erysipelas An instance of an entire want of hair in the human body Observations on the dropsy which succeeds Scarlet Fever A case of Tetanus with observations on the disease A case of aneurism of the Aorta communicating with the Pulmonary artery A case of considerable enlargement of the Cœcum and Colon A case of extensive Gangrene of the cellular nembrane between the muscles and skin of the neck and chest On rheumatism of the heart On the presence of the red matter and serum of the blood in the urine of dropsy which has not originated in Scarlet Fever Observations on Pulmonary Consumption and intermittent fever chiefly as diseases opposed to each other with an attempt to arrange several other diseases according to the alliance or opposition which exists between them and one or other of the two former dd Fuentes EditarMunk s Roll of the Royal College of Physicians Dictionary of National Biography James R R William Charles Wells British Journal of Ophthalmology November 1928 Datos Q3180413 Obtenido de https es wikipedia org w index php title William Charles Wells amp oldid 125547636, wikipedia, wiki, leyendo, leer, libro, biblioteca,
