Ernst Haeckel and the controversy around the images of embryos in the book Natürliche Schopfungsgeshichte

Abstract

Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919) was a renowned German researcher from the second half of the 19th century and early 20th century. Part of his scientific production was devoted to defending and disseminating Darwinian ideas of species modification in his country. Among Haeckel's ideas, the Fundamental Biogenetic Law stands out, in which he stated that the stages of development through which embryos pass recapitulate the evolutionary history of the phylum. To explain this idea, in the work Natürliche Schöpfungsgeschichte (History of Creation) from 1868, Haeckel used illustrations of embryos that became the target of criticism and accusations of fraud and plagiarism. This article aims to analyze the use that Ernst Haeckel made of these illustrations, reporting some of the criticisms of contemporary and later scientists, and to provide material for pedagogical activities aimed at teaching biological evolution and embryonic development. In alignment with analyses carried out by some historians of science, it is concluded that Haeckel reasonably defended himself and that the primary motivation for the criticism was the attack on Darwinism.