Trying Leviathan

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The narrative centers on the 1818 trial of Maurice v. Judd, which challenged the classification of whales as fish, sparking a significant debate between emerging scientific taxonomy and traditional biblical views. D. Graham Burnett vividly recounts the courtroom drama, featuring diverse witnesses, including whalers and philosophers, who presented evidence that questioned established beliefs about nature. Set against a backdrop of scientific revolution between Linnaeus and Darwin, the trial highlighted the evolving understanding of the natural world and the complexities of categorizing life.