The Lying Stones of Marrakech: Penultimate Reflections in Natural History Book

Stephen Jay Gould's monumental series of popular science essays, started in the 1970s, approaches its close with The Lying Stones of Marrakech. The subtitle, "Penultimate Reflections in Natural History", indicates that the next volume will be the last. Back at the beginning, in The Panda's Thumb and The Flamingo's Smile, Gould concerned himself with zoological and paleontological issues, demonstrating how the curiosities of nature--the bodged jobs, if you like--were more revealing of the workings of evolution and natural selection than its perfection. His focus has changed somewhat, and the current offering reflects a preoccupation with the intellectual history of science. The results may be less immediately appealing than Gould's earlier accounts of biological freaks and oddities, and the effort required of the reader greater, but the rewards are immense. These essays deal with the evolution of key concepts in the history of science, showing in every case that the accepted textbook accounts of their development are at the least over-simplifications, at worst downright falsifications resulting from misunderstanding, prejudice or even malice. The title essay deals with the case of an 18th-century fossil-collector duped into accepting as genuine fossils an absurd (to modern eyes) collection of forgeries including life-like lizards complete with skin and eyes, cobwebs and bees taking nectar from flowers. As always with Gould, context is everything. He patiently explores the intellectual assumptions underlying the wretched Dr Beringer's mistake and shows how, far from being a piece of misguided folly, it illuminates a profound and serious contemporary debate about the origins of the Earth and the laws governing the workings of the Universe. The remaining essays share the same spirit of dedicated enquiry. Gould's delight, or even exultation, in the life of the mind and the workings of science is inspiring in the highest degree. Readers familiar with his earlier essays will encounter many old friends (Darwin, Huxley, Lyell, L Lavoisier, Richard Owen among others) and meet new ones; the preoccupation with baseball is as strong as ever, though references to his beloved Gilbert and Sullivan are, mercifully some might think, absent. Many will regret the imminent closure of this remarkable series of volumes, but The Lying Stones of Marrakech is an intellectual feast and sufficient unto the day. --Robin Davidson Read More