The ``Evolutionary Synthesis' of George Udny Yule

This article discusses the work ofGeorge Udny Yule in relation to theevolutionary synthesis and thebiometric-Mendelian debate. It has generallybeen claimed that (i.) in 1902, Yule put forththe first account showing that the competingbiometric and Mendelian programs could besynthesized. Furthermore, (ii.) the scientificfigures who should have been most interested inthis thesis (the biometricians W. F. RaphaelWeldon and Karl Pearson, and the MendelianWilliam Bateson) were too blinded by personalanimosity towards each other to appreciateYule's proposal. This essay provides adetailed account of (i.), maintaining thatYule's 1902 proposal is better understood as areduction, not a synthesis of the two programs.The results of this analysis are then used toevaluate (ii.), where I will instead argue thatBateson and the biometricians had good reasonsto avoid endorsing Yule's account.