Notes about Darwinism reception in Brazil and Mexico

Abstract

At the second half of the nineteenth century, Darwinism has become a widely discussed theory, mainly in scientific places, in different parts of world, with emphasis here in America. In this sense, the purpose of this paper is to discuss how Charles Darwin’s assumptions were appropriated and reinterpreted by speakers who presented in public spaces of scientific vulgarization in Rio de Janeiro, comparing with what happened in Mexico. In this way, I intend to investigate the divergence and/or agreement about the reception of this theory in both countries. I intend to show how reception, apprehension and reinterpretation processes of Darwinian ideas had or had not a common ground.