Introduction

Abstract

This special issue on Charles Darwin and evolutionary theories comes after popular attacks on, or challenges to, modern evolutionary theory and after the 2009 celebration of the 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species. Both the challenges and the celebration have recognized the cultural and scientific importance of Darwin and his theories. One can only hope that the good scholarly and critical work done on Darwin and his work will help the general public to develop clearer and more sophisticated understanding of the science and its significance.