E. O. Wilson

Edward Osborne Wilson; short E. O. Wilson; ( Born June 10, 1929 in Birmingham, Alabama) is an American entomologist and biologist who is known for his contributions to the theory of evolution and sociobiology.

Wilson's specialty is ants, especially their communication by pheromones.

Career

Even before his high school graduation (1946 ), Wilson put it firmly to study ants, and in fact he published three years later at the University of Alabama his first scientific study of fire ants.

In 1955 he received his doctorate at Harvard University in the Department of Biology, there increased gradually on the academic ladder up and eventually became Professor of Zoology at Harvard University ( 1964-1976 ). His field research also made ​​him an expert in the field of biogeography.

In collaboration with Robert H. MacArthur Wilson developed in 1963 in an essay and 1967 in The Theory of Biogeography Iceland ( cf. island biogeography ) the first theory, which described the balance of species in nature. In 1971 he published The Insect Societies with a comprehensive overview of social insects. In 1975, he coined in Sociobiology: The New Synthesis, the term sociobiology. In 1977 he was elected a member of the Leopoldina. 1996 declared him the news magazine TIME 's 25 most influential people of North America.

Edward O. Wilson is one of only two people who received both the highest U.S. award for scientists ( the National Medal of Science, 1976) as well, and this on two counts, the highest literary award in his country, the Pulitzer Prize for the non-fiction books On Human Nature (1979) and the Ants (1991). On 17 October 2007 he received the Addison Emery Verrill Medal, the highest award of the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University. The Social Conquest of Earth received the 2013 Award of knowledge book of the year.

Services

Width became famous for Wilson in 1975 after the publication of Sociobiology: The New Synthesis. His theses on the interplay between evolution and social behavior in animals and humans were both influential and controversial. In particular, the last chapter, in which he applies his reflections on man and his behavior has led to prolonged and intense criticism. At the same time Wilson has established with this book and the 1983 Promethean Fire the term and the subject sociobiology.

In addition, Wilson believes that stand in the evolution of genes and not individuals at the center. This theme was taken up by Richard Dawkins in his book The Selfish Gene and considered in detail.

Another area of ​​Wilsons are the mass extinction of many species in the Earth's history. In Diversity of Life, he argues that humanity is currently initiating the destruction of the environment, a sixth mass extinction. He Strongly opposes the idea of that the protection of some areas sufficient to maintain the network of interdependent species. For his ideas and contributions in this field, he was also called "the father of biodiversity ".

The Biophilia Hypothesis in 1984 he formulated the basis for an anthropocentric environmental and conservation ethic is given, which wants to keep out of the self-interest of people out biodiversity. Wilson is considered the founder of the concept of biodiversity. WG Rosen used the term in 1985 in the name of a conference of the U.S. National Research Council (NRC ) entitled National Forum on Biological Diversity (performed 1986). 1988 Wilson grabbed the concept and used it as the title of his book biodiversity. The theoretical foundations of contemporary research on biodiversity were placed in it.

In 2007 he was one of the initiators of the Encyclopedia of Life, an online encyclopedia, to be stored in the information about 1.8 million living beings.

Criticism

Due to the sociobiological notion that human behavior in the context of the evolution of man was to be seen, Wilson is accused by critics of proximity to racism and social Darwinism. However, Wilson has such ideas is neither supported, nor are they derived from sociobiology. His theory presented no ethical claims, which his critics complain in particular. Wilson himself believes that " moral reasoning is scientifically explainable on any level. "

Writings (selection )

Scientific Publications

  • With Robert H. MacArthur: The Theory of Biogeography Iceland. 1967 Biogeography of the islands. Goldmann, Munich 1971, ISBN 3-442-55014-9
  • Biology as destiny. The socio- biological bases of human behavior. Ullsteinhaus, Munich 1980, ISBN 3-550-07684-3
  • Ants. Birkhauser Verlag, Basel 1995, ISBN 3-7643-5152-7
  • Darwin's dice. Claassen, Munich 2000, ISBN 3-546-00225-3 Darwin's executor - Edward O. Wilson shows skepticism about evolution, review of Ulrich Woelk in the Süddeutsche Zeitung, October 18, 2000
  • The unity of knowledge. Siedler, Berlin 1998; Goldmann, Munich 2000, ISBN 3-442-15079-5 )
  • The future of life. Siedler, Berlin 2002; Goldmann, Munich 2004, ISBN 3-442-15282-8

Autobiography

  • Naturalist. 1995 Life's fullness. A love letter to the wonders of nature. Claassen, Munich 1999. ISBN 3-546-00159-1
Robert MacArthur Time (magazine) Wissenschaftsbuch des Jahres History of the Earth PBS Integrated Authority File
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