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Colloquium with Marilyn Fischer on Thursday, March 10

Fischer_MMarilyn Fischer, Professor Emerita at the University of Dayton, will speak on Thursday, 10 March 2016, in the Knight Library Browsing Room, 4:00-5:30 PM. The title of Dr. Fischer’s talk is “Pacifism and the Science of War: Addams on World War One.”

Abstract:
In the early twentieth century, scientists debated the implications of Darwinian evolution for human warfare. Some scientists identified war as an integral part of the competitive Darwinian struggle for the survival of the fittest. Other scientists stressed cooperation among members of the human species as having greater survival value. This lecture will explore how Jane Addams used arguments of “peace biologists” to support her commitments to pacifism throughout the war and to humanitarian relief efforts afterwards.

Photos:
Addams to WILPF 1915The photo on the right is of the American Delegation on the ship, on their way to the International Congress of Women at The Hague, a gathering of women from both sides of the war and from neutral nations who wanted to see what they could do to bring the war to an end.

Addams McDowell Peace sign
In the photo to the left, Mary McDowell is on the left, and Jane Addams on the right.

For more information, please contact Scott Pratt spratt@uoregon.edu or Erin McKenna emckenna@uoregon.edu.