Bernhard Rensch

Bernhard Rensch (21 January 1900 – 4 April 1990) was a German evolutionary biologist, and ornithologist who did field work in Indonesia and India. He is probably best known as one of the architects of the modern evolutionary synthesis, which he popularised in Germany. His work on the evolution of geographically isolated populations, and on evolution above the species level, contributed to the modern synthesis. He also worked extensively on animal behavior (ethology).

Rensch's education and scientific work was interrupted by service in the German military during both World War I and World War II. His autobiography, published later in life, translates as 'Life of a biologist in a turbulent century'.^[1]

Works

This is a select list of books alone and includes English translations.

• (1930) Eine biologische Reise nach den kleinen Sunda-Inseln. Berlin: Bornträger
• (1947) Neuere Probleme der Abstammungslehre. F. Enke. 1947.
• (1947) Evolution above the Species Level. London: Methuen. (German original 1947; 3rd enlarged ed. 1972.)^[2]
• (1971) Biophilosophy. New York: Columbia University Press. (German original 1968.)
• (1972) Homo sapiens: From Man to Demigod. London: Methuen. (German original 1959.)
• (1973) Gedächtnis, Begriffsbildung und Planhandlungen bei Tieren. Berlin: Parey.
• (1979) Lebensweg eines Biologen in einem turbulenten Jahrhundert. Stuttgart: Fischer.
• (1979) Gesetzlichkeit, psychophysischer Zusammenhang, Willensfreiheit und Ethik. Berlin: Duncker and Humblot.
• (1984) Psychologische Grundlagen der Wertung bildender Kunst. Essen: Die blaue Eule.
• (1985) Biophilosophical Implications of Inorganic and Organismic Evolution. Essen: Die blaue Eule.

References

1. Rensch B. 1979. Lebensweg eines Biologen in einem turbulenten Jahrenhundert. A short memorial was published in Verh. Dtsch. Zool. Ges. 83:673-675 (1990).
2. Hutchinson, G.E. (1961). "Review: Evolution above the Species Level by Bernhard Rensch". American Anthropologist. 63 (4): 880–881. doi:10.1525/aa.1961.63.4.02a00470. JSTOR 666710.