Junker T
Sudhoffs Arch. 1991;75(2):180-208.
Heinrich Georg Bronn, one of the leading nineteenth-century palaeontologists was also known as the translator of Charles Darwin's Origin of Species. He undertook his translation soon after the publication of Darwin's work and added a critical post-scriptum. Still in 1857 Bronn had written unambiguously in favour of the constancy of biological species. After the publication of the Origin of Species he thought that in spite of a number of objections which could be brought forward, the future belonged to Darwin's theory and supported with great commitment its spreading. It is puzzling that Bronn did so when he was almost 60 and committed to a religious outlook. The history of the reception of Darwin's doctrine shows that, as a rule, older scientists with such religious worldviews would not support Darwin. The analysis of Bronn's earlier writings and the correspondence between Darwin and Bronn will throw light on the reasons why he represented an exemption. Bronns opinion of Darwin's theory shows the wide gap between the older typologically-inclined natural history and Darwin's evolutionary theory. To conclude, Bronn's translation of the Origin of Species as well as his post-scriptum were of considerable importance for the reception of Darwin's ideas in the german-speaking world.
海因里希·格奥尔格·布龙是19世纪主要的古生物学家之一，也以翻译查尔斯·达尔文的《物种起源》而闻名。达尔文的著作出版后不久，他就着手进行翻译，并添加了一篇批判性的后记。1857年时，布龙仍明确地支持生物物种的稳定性。《物种起源》出版后，他认为尽管可以提出一些反对意见，但未来属于达尔文的理论，并大力支持其传播。令人费解的是，布龙在快60岁且秉持宗教观念时却这样做了。达尔文学说的接受史表明，通常情况下，持有这种宗教世界观的年长科学家不会支持达尔文。对布龙早期著作以及达尔文与布龙之间通信的分析，将揭示他成为例外的原因。布龙对达尔文理论的看法表明，早期倾向于类型学的自然史与达尔文的进化论之间存在巨大差距。总之，布龙对《物种起源》的翻译及其后记对于达尔文思想在德语世界的接受具有相当重要的意义。
