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Which Of The Industrial Age And Darwinian Influences On Percival Lowell?

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Ashish Cavale Dr. Senf LMC 3112 9 April 2024 Industrial Age and Darwinian Influences on Percival Lowell’s Martian Theories Percival Lowell is regarded as one of the most controversial figures in astronomy due to his theories on the existence of Martian canals and a Martian civilization. While the public and scientists at the time were taking sides on whether such theories were ahead of their time or foolish, the debate was never officially concluded until the Mariner 4 spacecraft took the first pictures of the Martian surface from its flyby in 1965 (Sagan and Pollack 121). However, in retrospect, there are many distinct undertones of the Industrial Age and Darwinian influences in Lowell’s writing and life that give modern-day readers insight …show more content…

For example, the construction of the Panama Canal was concurrent with the writing of Mars and Its Canals, so, considering the western superiority Lowell already possessed, seeing the “geometric beauty” of the Martian canals equated to signs of an intelligent civilization (Lowell 175). Just as Lowell proved to be western-centric in his thoughts about East Asia, Lowell theorizes from his Earth-centric point of view when studying Mars. The Panama Canal is one of the many Industrial Age feats of the western world that marks “the beginning of our subjugation of the globe” (Lowell 363). Therefore, Lowell is quick to assume that if the Martian surface is more complex than Earth’s, the civilization on Mars must reflect a more complex species. Furthermore, Lowell began to be called the “Roosevelt of Astronomy” during the time of the construction of the Panama Canal due to the similarities between America and the supposed Martian’s efforts in industrial innovation, expansion, and efficiency (Simpson …show more content…

As Lowell said during a lecture at MIT honoring Darwin after his death, “the loneliness of greatness is the price men make the genius pay – for posthumous renown” (Simpson 438). The fact that Lowell is looking and anticipating fame rather than truth creates a stronger will in him to keep his sensational theories alive. With his high respect for and perceived connection to Darwin, Lowell attempts to emulate himself as an archetype seen throughout the Industrial Age: the self-made man. The self-made man seeks to make profit or progress out of his own hard work, as was done in various factories, businesses, and schools, and this analysis shows that Lowell is no exception. From a Darwinian point of view, a self-made man is someone who has fought to be the naturally selected human that is superior to others. Therefore, it is logical that Lowell aims to place himself in this category by defending his Martian canal theory to the very end, establishing himself as an astronomical figure for decades to

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