PAST AND PRESENT - NOTES ON THE ROLE OF H ISTORY IN MAYR,ERNST WRITINGS

Since the 1950s ERNST MAYR has been well known as one of the architect s of the modern synthetic theory of evolution. During the last two dec ades he has also achieved distinction as a historian of biology, espec ially after the publication of his comprehensive Growth of Biological Thought (1982). MAYR's historical method is based on the attempt to in tegrate historical and recent aspects of scientific biology. At the sa me time, his interest in historical questions and in the politics of s cience are closely interconnected. The role of MAYR's historical writi ngs within his evolutionary research program becomes evident when we l ook at the origin of his interest in history.