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How Much Are We Willing to Pay for a Fossil?

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How Much Are We Willing to Pay for a Fossil? OPINION NATURE|Vol 462|24/31 December 2009 CORRESPONDENCE Goodbye to Darwin popular religious beliefs in some ‘theory of progressive change’. (1858–1925) and Otto Dix conservative societies across the In fact, the word jinhualun (1891–1969). Some milder from a contemporary eastern world. There, the writings originated in Japan in the 1870s, conditions can even enhance with vision and thoughts of intellectuals, gaining popularity in China only productivity and creativity. For however influential, are no match after appearing in Ma Junwu’s example, the metaphysical art of One night some 40 years ago, for traditional religion. later translation of Darwin’s The Giorgio de Chirico (1888–1978) I was working late and alone in the For example, in Pakistan it was Origin of Species. may have been inspired by library at the Marine Biology not until 2002 that a chapter on Instead, Yan Fu coined the migraine or epilepsy. Laboratory at Woods Hole (in evolution was included for the term tianyanlun. The Chinese Kemp focuses entirely those days, the library never really first time in a school textbook, as a words tian and yan are layered in on the beholder, as though closed), searching for something result of the federal government’s meaning, with tian translatable as — to paraphrase the French in the 1882 volume of Archiv für educational reforms. The earlier ‘heaven’ and yan as ‘development’ philosopher Roland Barthes Protistenkunde. As I opened it, out decades of attempts to suppress or ‘performance’, among other (Aspen 5–6; 1967) — the birth of fell a folded page from the magazine scientific ideas were certainly not concepts. But most would agree the viewer must be at the cost of The Nation (still publishing today), “enchanting”. that tian corresponds nicely to the death of the artist. However, dated 27 April 1882. Elshakry makes reference to the English word ‘nature’, whereas art historians and neuroscientists The page, headed ‘Charles Muhammad Iqbal, the Muslim yan in this context denotes also need to take into account Darwin’, was his obituary. As far thinker and reformer from early ‘evolution’. the maker and the making of as I know, it has not been reprinted last century. Although Iqbal So, ‘the theory of natural artworks — a collaboration that or indexed in, for example, sought to challenge the traditional evolution’ was Yan’s preferred is successfully being developed the Darwin archive at http:// interpretation of religious beliefs translation — a much more in the Swiss Artists-in-Labs darwin-online.org.uk. There is no and to understand religious agreeable term, whether or not programme (www.artistsinlabs. indication of the author’s identity, principles in light of modern its alternative meanings are ch/english/index.htm). although it would be gratifying if it scientific thought, he avoided included. Olaf Blanke, Luca Forcucci, Sebastian were his supporter and friend, the any direct mention of evolution David Flannery Department Dieguez Laboratory of Cognitive American botanist Asa Gray. or natural selection in his Urdu of International Studies, Neuroscience, Brain Mind Institute, I was impressed by the and Farsi writings. This was not Macquarie University, Sydney, École Polytechnique Fédérale de prescient observations on Darwin. because he was unaware of New South Wales 2109, Australia Lausanne, Station 19, For example, the final paragraph Darwin’s works, but probably e-mail: david.flannery@students. 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland points out “There can be little because he realized his audience mq.edu.au e-mail: [email protected] doubt that Mr. Darwin’s name will was not yet ready to appreciate go down in history as that of the the significance of these ideas. Readers may comment on greatest scientific inquirer and the Given their background of the Global Darwin series at How much are most pregnant scientific thinker widespread illiteracy and poverty, go.nature.com/97zlyr. that has lived since Newton. deep-rooted social and religious we willing to pay Since the beginnings of modern conservatism, and colonial rule, for a fossil? learning, probably no single idea religion was these people’s last Don’t forget the has wrought upon the minds of hope — and it was not the time to The outrage expressed by Elwyn men with such rich and manifold take that hope away. artists when studying Simons and others over the sale results as the idea of ‘natural Saheeb Ahmed Kayani National perception of art of a 47-million-year-old fossil for selection’; and it is evident that University of Sciences and Technology, an enormous sum (Nature 460, what we have already seen is but Islamabad-44000, Pakistan Martin Kemp in Books & Arts 456; 2009) may not be altogether an earnest of vastly more that is e-mail: [email protected] (Nature 461, 882–883; 2009) justified. to come.” suggests using functional A fossil’s intrinsic value relates Richard Kool School of Environment neuroimaging to study the to its preservation, rarity, scientific and Sustainability, Royal Roads Global Darwin: ideas viewing and reception of artworks. interest and completeness. University, Victoria, British Columbia But such direct measures of brain Arguably, this may be reflected as V9B 5Y2, Canada blurred in early activity allow only for correlations a commercial value to museums e-mail: [email protected] eastern translations between brain responses and the or private collectors. task of the viewer. The price a fossil is likely to The early diffusion of Darwin’s Clinical neuropsychologists fetch is of considerable interest Global Darwin: long ideas into China resulted in have already studied the to modern Chinese farmers, multiple interpretations, imperfect consequences of brain damage for example, as it was to their kept under wraps translations and unsatisfactory on cognition more directly. Insight European predecessors around in Pakistan terminology, as James Pusey into neurocognitive factors Bolca in the Italian Alps and notes in his Opinion article underlying art-making has come Messel in Germany. Their Marwa Elshakry’s Opinion article (Nature 462, 162–163; 2009). from, for instance, the effects excavations are often crude (Nature 461, 1200–1201; 2009, However, he inadvertently implies of dementia on the abstract and can damage the fossil, but and see go.nature.com/97zlyr) that it was the Chinese scholar expressionist William de Kooning they still expect payment from makes no mention of the Yan Fu who translated ‘evolution’ (1904–97) and of stroke on the interested professionals. conflict of Darwin’s ideas with as jinhualun, which means German artists Lovis Corinth Worldwide closure of the 984 © 2009 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.
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