Nathaniel Southgate Shaler

Nathaniel Southgate Shaler (February 20th 1841 - April 10th 1906) was a famous paleontologist and geologist who was interested particularly in the theological and scientific implications of the Théorie of the evolution.

Shaler studied with Harvard under the direction of legendary the Louis Agassiz. It remained there besides as a lecturer then professor of paleontology during two decades (1869-1888) followed by two other decades of teaching as a professor of geology (1888-1906).

Very early in its professional path, Shaler positioned as a creationnist and anti-darwiniste. It was mainly by respect in the brilliance but preserving Agazziz whose benevolence allowed Shaler a rapid rise in the hierarchy of Harvard. When its own place was assured, Shaler accepted gradually the principles darwiniens but through the neo-lamarckian thought : Doctrines of the natural selection - chance, possibilities and opportunism were rejected for a vision of order, goal and progress in which the biological characteristics are inherited thanks to the individual effort each organization. Shaler also supported the polygenism of Agassiz, a primarily racist theory, thus giving him refined varnish and academic whom it missed.

At the end of its career, Shaler was member of Harvard' S Dean off Sciences and was one of the most popular teachers of the university. It published an incalculable number of treaties throughout its life on subject as varied as the topographic studies or morals.

Shaler is known today like a preserving academic having remained with the variation of the current of the scientific history, accepting the theory of the evolution on a side but fighting ardently against it of the other.

Shaler also been useful as an officer of the Union in the American Civil War.

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