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The Descent of Man: Unraveling Darwin's Enduring Legacy
Introduction:
Charles Darwin's The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, published in 1871, wasn't just a sequel to On the Origin of Species. It was a bold, groundbreaking exploration of human evolution, tackling sensitive issues of race, gender, and morality head-on, sparking debates that continue to this day. This post delves into the core arguments of The Descent of Man, examining its impact on scientific thought, its controversies, and its enduring relevance in understanding our place in the natural world. We'll explore Darwin's key concepts, analyze the criticisms leveled against the work, and consider its lasting legacy in fields ranging from anthropology to evolutionary psychology.
H2: Darwin's Central Arguments: Bridging the Gap Between Humans and Animals
Darwin's primary assertion in The Descent of Man was straightforward yet revolutionary: humans, like all other species, evolved through natural selection. He meticulously built his case, arguing that the anatomical similarities between humans and primates, particularly apes, provided undeniable evidence of a shared ancestry. This wasn't simply a matter of physical resemblance; Darwin also pointed to behavioral parallels, highlighting the emotional and cognitive capacities shared across species. He wasn't proposing a linear progression from ape to human, but rather a branching evolutionary tree with humans occupying a specific, evolved niche.
H3: Natural Selection and Sexual Selection: Two Sides of the Evolutionary Coin
Darwin recognized that natural selection, the driving force behind adaptation to environmental pressures, couldn't fully account for the evolution of human characteristics. He introduced the concept of sexual selection, arguing that traits like the peacock's extravagant tail, or even certain human characteristics, evolved not necessarily for survival advantages but for attracting mates. This interplay between natural and sexual selection, he argued, shaped the physical and behavioral traits that define humanity.
H4: The Role of Sexual Selection in Human Evolution
Sexual selection, Darwin believed, played a crucial role in the development of human intelligence, morality, and aesthetic senses. He suggested that the preference for certain traits in mates, driven by factors like beauty, intelligence, or strength, led to their gradual enhancement over generations. This mechanism, however, was heavily criticized for its potential to reinforce social biases and inequalities.
H2: Controversies and Criticisms: Navigating the Ethical Minefield
The Descent of Man didn't shy away from controversial topics. Darwin's exploration of human racial differences sparked intense debate, particularly as his interpretations were often misused to justify racist ideologies. He attempted to apply evolutionary principles to explain variations in human populations, but his conclusions were far from definitive and frequently misinterpreted. This highlights a critical aspect of scientific work: even groundbreaking theories can be subject to misapplication and abuse.
H3: Addressing the Question of Morality
Another controversial aspect of the book was Darwin's attempt to explain the origins of morality. He argued that altruistic behavior, while seemingly selfless, could be understood through an evolutionary lens: individuals who cooperated and exhibited empathy often enjoyed greater reproductive success. However, this explanation faced considerable opposition from those who viewed morality as fundamentally distinct from evolutionary processes.
H2: The Enduring Legacy: A Continuing Dialogue
Despite the controversies and criticisms, The Descent of Man remains a landmark achievement in scientific history. It solidified the place of humans within the evolutionary framework, opening new avenues of research in fields like anthropology, primatology, and evolutionary psychology. The book's impact is not simply historical; its ideas continue to fuel contemporary discussions about human nature, social behavior, and the very definition of humanity.
H3: Modern Interpretations and Applications
Today, evolutionary biologists refine and expand upon Darwin's original insights. Sophisticated genetic analysis, combined with detailed behavioral studies, has deepened our understanding of human evolution, providing a more nuanced picture than Darwin could have imagined. The book's lasting impact lies in its fundamental shift in perspective: placing humans within the context of the natural world, subject to the same evolutionary forces that shaped all other life forms.
Conclusion:
The Descent of Man is more than just a scientific treatise; it's a testament to the enduring power of scientific inquiry and a continuing exploration of our place in the universe. While some of Darwin's conclusions may seem dated by modern standards, his groundbreaking approach to understanding human origins continues to inspire and challenge us to grapple with the complexities of our evolutionary past and present.
FAQs:
1. How does The Descent of Man differ from On the Origin of Species? While On the Origin of Species focused on the general principles of evolution by natural selection, The Descent of Man specifically applied these principles to human evolution, tackling issues of race, morality, and sexual selection.
2. What are the main criticisms of The Descent of Man? Criticisms centered on Darwin's handling of racial differences, his explanation of morality, and the potential for misinterpreting his ideas to justify social inequalities.
3. How has The Descent of Man influenced modern scientific thought? The book's core argument—that humans evolved through natural selection—has become a foundational principle in numerous fields, particularly anthropology, primatology, and evolutionary psychology.
4. What is sexual selection, and how does it relate to human evolution? Sexual selection is the process by which traits that enhance mating success evolve, even if they don't necessarily improve survival. Darwin argued it played a significant role in shaping human physical and behavioral characteristics.
5. Is Darwin's work still relevant today? Absolutely. While our understanding of evolution has advanced significantly, the fundamental principles outlined in The Descent of Man remain central to our understanding of human origins and continue to spark debate and inspire new research.
| the descent of man: The Descent of Man Grayson Perry, 2016-10-20 'Grayson Perry for King and Queen of England' Caitlin Moran Grayson Perry has been thinking about masculinity - what it is, how it operates, why little boys are thought to be made of slugs and snails - since he was a boy. Now, in this funny and necessary book, he turns round to look at men with a clear eye and ask, what sort of men would make the world a better place, for everyone? What would happen if we rethought the old, macho, outdated version of manhood, and embraced a different idea of what makes a man? Apart from giving up the coronary-inducing stress of always being 'right' and the vast new wardrobe options, the real benefit might be that a newly fitted masculinity will allow men to have better relationships - and that's happiness, right? Grayson Perry admits he's not immune from the stereotypes himself - as the psychoanalysts say, 'if you spot it, you've got it' - and his thoughts on everything from power to physical appearance, from emotions to a brand new Manifesto for Men, are shot through with honesty, tenderness and the belief that, for everyone to benefit, upgrading masculinity has to be something men decide to do themselves. They have nothing to lose but their hang-ups. |
| the descent of man: The Descent of Man (Diversion Classics) Charles Darwin, 2016-06-28 Considered one of the most significant pieces of his life's work, Charles Darwin's The Descent of Man forever shaped our understanding of human evolution. Picked apart in 1871 for its controversial content, Darwin's findings explore two essential facets of evolutionary theory: natural selection and sexual selection. Pointing to undeniable anatomical, mental, and social similarities, Darwin asserts not just that all races of humanity share a single origin, but that we share common ancestors with other animals and have evolved in similar ways. Under sexual selection, he argues that females choosing among competing males has determined our differentiating racial characteristics. Though aspects of Descent have been met with contention to this day, this book is a must-read for anyone curious about humanity and its origin. Featuring an appendix of discussion questions, this Diversion Classics edition is ideal for use in book groups and classrooms. For more classic titles like this, visit www.diversionbooks.com/ebooks/diversion-classics |
| the descent of man: A Most Interesting Problem Jeremy DeSilva, 2022-11-29 Leading scholars take stock of Darwin's ideas about human evolution in the light of modern science In 1871, Charles Darwin published The Descent of Man, a companion to Origin of Species in which he attempted to explain human evolution, a topic he called the highest and most interesting problem for the naturalist. A Most Interesting Problem brings together twelve world-class scholars and science communicators to investigate what Darwin got right—and what he got wrong—about the origin, history, and biological variation of humans. Edited by Jeremy DeSilva and with an introduction by acclaimed Darwin biographer Janet Browne, A Most Interesting Problem draws on the latest discoveries in fields such as genetics, paleontology, bioarchaeology, anthropology, and primatology. This compelling and accessible book tackles the very subjects Darwin explores in Descent, including the evidence for human evolution, our place in the family tree, the origins of civilization, human races, and sex differences. A Most Interesting Problem is a testament to how scientific ideas are tested and how evidence helps to structure our narratives about human origins, showing how some of Darwin's ideas have withstood more than a century of scrutiny while others have not. A Most Interesting Problem features contributions by Janet Browne, Jeremy DeSilva, Holly Dunsworth, Agustín Fuentes, Ann Gibbons, Yohannes Haile-Selassie, Brian Hare, John Hawks, Suzana Herculano-Houzel, Kristina Killgrove, Alice Roberts, and Michael J. Ryan. |
| the descent of man: The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex Charles Darwin, 1886 |
| the descent of man: The Descent of Man Charles Darwin, 2004-06-29 Applying his controversial theory of evolution to the origins of the human species, Charles Darwin's The Descent of Man was the culmination of his life's work. In The Origin of Species, Charles Darwin refused to discuss human evolution, believing the subject too 'surrounded with prejudices'. He had been reworking his notes since the 1830s, but only with trepidation did he finally publish The Descent of Man in 1871. The book notoriously put apes in our family tree and made the races one family, diversified by 'sexual selection' - Darwin's provocative theory that female choice among competing males leads to diverging racial characteristics. Named by Sigmund Freud as 'one of the ten most significant books' ever written, Darwin's Descent of Man continues to shape the way we think about what it is that makes us uniquely human. In their introduction, James Moore and Adrian Desmond, acclaimed biographers of Charles Darwin, call for a radical re-assessment of the book, arguing that its core ideas on race were fired by Darwin's hatred of slavery. The text is the second and definitive edition and this volume also contains suggestions for further reading, a chronology and biographical sketches of prominent individuals mentioned. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators. |
| the descent of man: Sexual Selection and the Descent of Man Bernard Grant Campbell, 2006 Considers aspects of sexual selection in many species, including man, within the context of contemporary evolutionary theory and research. This book is of interest to a variety of professionals, including biologists, anthropologists, and geneticists. It is for courses in vertebrate biology, theory of evolution, genetics, and physical anthropology. |
| the descent of man: The Origins of Creativity Edward O. Wilson, 2017-10-03 'An intellectual hero ... A superb celebrator of science in all its manifestations' Ian McEwan 'Darwin's great successor' Jeffrey Sachs The legendary biologist Edward O. Wilson offers his most philosophically probing work to date 'Creativity is the unique and defining trait of our species; and its ultimate goal, self-understanding,' begins Edward Wilson's sweeping examination of the humanities and their relationship to the sciences. By studying fields as diverse as paleontology, evolutionary biology and neuroscience, Wilson demonstrates that human creativity began not 10,000 years ago, as we have long assumed, but over 100,000 years ago in the Paleolithic Age. Chronicling the evolution of creativity from primates to humans, Wilson shows how the humanities, in large part spurred on by the invention of language, have played a previously unexamined role in defining our species. Exploring a surprising range of creative endeavors - the instinct to create gardens; the use of metaphors and irony in speech; or the power of music and song - Wilson proposes a transformational 'Third Enlightenment' in which the blending of science and the humanities will enable us to gain a deeper understanding of the human condition, and how it ultimately originated. |
| the descent of man: The Descent of Man Charles Darwin, 2018-09-03 Charles Robert Darwin, FRS FRGS FLS FZS was an English naturalist, geologist and biologist, best known for his contributions to the science of evolution. |
| the descent of man: Y Steve Jones, 2003 Table of contents |
| the descent of man: Darwin and the Making of Sexual Selection Evelleen Richards, 2017-04-27 Sexual selection, or the struggle for mates, was of considerable strategic importance to Darwin s theory of evolution as he first outlined it in the Origin of Species, and later, in the Descent of Man, it took on a much wider role. There, Darwin s exhaustive elaboration of sexual selection throughout the animal kingdom was directed to substantiating his view that human racial and sexual differences, not just physical differences but certain mental and moral differences, had evolved primarily through the action of sexual selection. It was the culmination of a lifetime of intellectual effort and commitment. Yet even though he argued its validity with a great array of critics, sexual selection went into abeyance with Darwin s death, not to be revived until late in the twentieth century, and even today it remains a controversial theory. In unfurling the history of sexual selection, Evelleen Richards brings to vivid life Darwin the man, not the myth, and the social and intellectual roots of his theory building. |
| the descent of man: The Rise of Animals and Descent of Man, 1660–1800 John Morillo, 2017-11-22 The Rise of Animals and the Descent of Man illuminates compelling historical connections between a current fascination with animal life and the promotion of the moral status of non-human animals as ethical subjects deserving our attention and respect, and a deep interest in the animal as agent in eighteenth-century literate culture. It explores how writers, including well-known poets, important authors who mixed art and science, and largely forgotten writers of sermons and children’s stories all offered innovative alternatives to conventional narratives about the meaning of animals in early modern Europe. They question Descartes’ claim that animals are essentially soulless machines incapable of thought or feelings. British writers from 1660-1800 remain informed by Cartesianism, but often counter it by recognizing that feelings are as important as reason when it comes to defining animal life and its relation to human life. This British line of thought deviates from Descartes by focusing on fine feeling as a register of moral life empowered by sensibility and sympathy, but this very stance is complicated by cultural fears that too much kindness to animals can entail too much kinship with them—fears made famous in the later reaction to Darwinian evolution. The Riseof Animals uncovers ideological tensions between sympathy for animals and a need to defend the special status of humans from the rapidly developing Darwinian perspective. The writers it examines engage in complex negotiations with sensibility and a wide range of philosophical and theological traditions. Their work anticipates posthumanist thought and the challenges it poses to traditional humanist values within the humanities and beyond. The Rise of Animals is a sophisticated intellectual history of the origins of our changing attitudes about animals that at the same time illuminates major currents of eighteenth-century British literary culture. |
| the descent of man: The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex Charles Darwin, 2008-09-02 In the current resurgence of interest in the biological basis of animal behavior and social organization, the ideas and questions pursued by Charles Darwin remain fresh and insightful. This is especially true of The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex, Darwin's second most important work. This edition is a facsimile reprint of the first printing of the first edition (1871), not previously available in paperback. The work is divided into two parts. Part One marshals behavioral and morphological evidence to argue that humans evolved from other animals. Darwin shoes that human mental and emotional capacities, far from making human beings unique, are evidence of an animal origin and evolutionary development. Part Two is an extended discussion of the differences between the sexes of many species and how they arose as a result of selection. Here Darwin lays the foundation for much contemporary research by arguing that many characteristics of animals have evolved not in response to the selective pressures exerted by their physical and biological environment, but rather to confer an advantage in sexual competition. These two themes are drawn together in two final chapters on the role of sexual selection in humans. In their Introduction, Professors Bonner and May discuss the place of The Descent in its own time and relation to current work in biology and other disciplines. |
| the descent of man: The Moral Animal Robert Wright, 2010-11-03 One of the most provocative science books ever published—a feast of great thinking and writing about the most profound issues there are (The New York Times Book Review). Fiercely intelligent, beautifully written and engrossingly original. —The New York Times Book Review Are men literally born to cheat? Does monogamy actually serve women's interests? These are among the questions that have made The Moral Animaled one of the most provocative science books in recent years. Wright unveils the genetic strategies behind everything from our sexual preferences to our office politics—as well as their implications for our moral codes and public policies. Illustrations. |
| the descent of man: The Evolution of Beauty Richard O. Prum, 2017-05-09 A FINALIST FOR THE PULITZER PRIZE NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW, SMITHSONIAN, AND WALL STREET JOURNAL A major reimagining of how evolutionary forces work, revealing how mating preferences—what Darwin termed the taste for the beautiful—create the extraordinary range of ornament in the animal world. In the great halls of science, dogma holds that Darwin's theory of natural selection explains every branch on the tree of life: which species thrive, which wither away to extinction, and what features each evolves. But can adaptation by natural selection really account for everything we see in nature? Yale University ornithologist Richard Prum—reviving Darwin's own views—thinks not. Deep in tropical jungles around the world are birds with a dizzying array of appearances and mating displays: Club-winged Manakins who sing with their wings, Great Argus Pheasants who dazzle prospective mates with a four-foot-wide cone of feathers covered in golden 3D spheres, Red-capped Manakins who moonwalk. In thirty years of fieldwork, Prum has seen numerous display traits that seem disconnected from, if not outright contrary to, selection for individual survival. To explain this, he dusts off Darwin's long-neglected theory of sexual selection in which the act of choosing a mate for purely aesthetic reasons—for the mere pleasure of it—is an independent engine of evolutionary change. Mate choice can drive ornamental traits from the constraints of adaptive evolution, allowing them to grow ever more elaborate. It also sets the stakes for sexual conflict, in which the sexual autonomy of the female evolves in response to male sexual control. Most crucially, this framework provides important insights into the evolution of human sexuality, particularly the ways in which female preferences have changed male bodies, and even maleness itself, through evolutionary time. The Evolution of Beauty presents a unique scientific vision for how nature's splendor contributes to a more complete understanding of evolution and of ourselves. |
| the descent of man: The Universe Within Neil Shubin, 2013-01-08 **Kirkus Best Books of the Year (2013)** From one of our finest and most popular science writers, and the best-selling author of Your Inner Fish, comes the answer to a scientific mystery as big as the world itself: How are the events that formed our solar system billions of years ago embedded inside each of us? In Your Inner Fish, Neil Shubin delved into the amazing connections between human bodies—our hands, heads, and jaws—and the structures in fish and worms that lived hundreds of millions of years ago. In The Universe Within, with his trademark clarity and exuberance, Shubin takes an even more expansive approach to the question of why we look the way we do. Starting once again with fossils, he turns his gaze skyward, showing us how the entirety of the universe’s fourteen-billion-year history can be seen in our bodies. As he moves from our very molecular composition (a result of stellar events at the origin of our solar system) through the workings of our eyes, Shubin makes clear how the evolution of the cosmos has profoundly marked our own bodies. WITH BLACK-AND-WHITE LINE DRAWINGS THROUGHOUT |
| the descent of man: The Descent of Man Charles Darwin, 2020 The Descent of Man - And selection in relation to sex. Second Edition is an unchanged, high-quality reprint of the original edition of 1888. Hansebooks is editor of the literature on different topic areas such as research and science, travel and expeditions, cooking and nutrition, medicine, and other genres. As a publisher we focus on the preservation of historical literature. Many works of historical writers and scientists are available today as antiques only. Hansebooks newly publishes these books and contributes to the preservation of literature which has become rare and historical knowledge for the future. |
| the descent of man: The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex - Vol. I. Charles Robert Darwin, 2013-05-31 This is a book on evolutionary theory by the famous English naturalist, Charles Darwin. It succeeds his 1859 thesis 'On the Origin of Species', wherein he explores the idea of natural selection. In this text, he attempts to apply his evolutionary theory to human evolution, and presents his theory of sexual selection. A worthy addition to any bookshelf, this book will be of special appeal to admirers of Darwin and collectors of antiquarian literature. The chapters of this book include: 'The Evolution of the Descent of Man From Some Lower Form', 'Comparison of the Mental Powers of Man and the Lower Animals', 'Comparison of the Mental Powers of Man and the Lower Animals', etcetera. This book is being republished now in an affordable, modern edition - complete with a new biography of the author. |
| the descent of man: Descent of Man Revisited World History John C. Landon, 2012-04 Descent of Man Revisited deals with the questions of world history and human emergence, as it explores issues of evolutionary theory, biological self-organization, and the history of biological thought, from the period of Lamarck and the predecessors of Darwin. The relationship of evolution to history remains a source of confusion, and the text explores this problem, along with the issues of non-random emergence visible in the archaeological record. This invites a close look at the data of the so-called Axial Age. Included is a new perspective on the rise of modernity, and the debates over secularism. The text contains a set of outlines of world history, attempting to examine the idea of 'evolutionary chronicles' as the early emergence of man passes through a transition from 'evolution to history'. This idea requires considering the idea of the 'evolution of freedom'. This creates a connection with issues of so-called Big History, and the classical philosophy of history. There are many additional topics discussed, from the evolution of ethics, and consciousness, to the riddle of evolutionary enlightenment, finally to the question of the 'first and last man', an idea from Olaf Stapleton, in a consideration of the future evolution of man, in the 'conclusion' or 'self-evolutionary epilog' of homo sapiens. |
| the descent of man: The Descent of Man; and Other Stories Edith Wharton, 2023-01-08 Reproduction of the original. |
| the descent of man: The Book of Signs Rudolf Koch, 2013-12-31 Famed German type designer renders 493 classified and documented illustrations divided into 14 categories, including general signs, Christian signs, astronomical signs, the four elements, house and holding marks, runes, and more. |
| the descent of man: Descent of Man , 1881 |
| the descent of man: The Body Language Bible Judi James, 2012-03-31 We live in an image-conscious society where looking the best tends to win over being the best. Human beings judge each other subconsciously in less than three seconds, based on body language alone. Filled with fascinating psychological insights, plus a whole raft of down-to-earth quick-fix tips, The Body Language Bible takes the reader through the minefield of self-marketing and image: how to read it and how to project it. In her inimitable straightforward style, Judi unravels the secrets to interpreting our movements and what we are really saying with our body language, whether consciously or not. She teaches you what we mean with our movements, how to interpret them and then shows you how to get what you want, whether you're doing business, making friends or falling in love. The Body Language Bible is an intriguing read, providing a unique mix of body language and communication psychology (voice and the impact of words). |
| the descent of man: In the Light of Evolution National Academy of Sciences, 2007 The Arthur M. Sackler Colloquia of the National Academy of Sciences address scientific topics of broad and current interest, cutting across the boundaries of traditional disciplines. Each year, four or five such colloquia are scheduled, typically two days in length and international in scope. Colloquia are organized by a member of the Academy, often with the assistance of an organizing committee, and feature presentations by leading scientists in the field and discussions with a hundred or more researchers with an interest in the topic. Colloquia presentations are recorded and posted on the National Academy of Sciences Sackler colloquia website and published on CD-ROM. These Colloquia are made possible by a generous gift from Mrs. Jill Sackler, in memory of her husband, Arthur M. Sackler. |
| the descent of man: Replacing Darwin Nathaniel T Jeanson, 2017-09-01 If Darwin were to examine the evidence today using modern science, would his conclusions be the same? Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, published over 150 years ago, is considered one of history’s most influential books and continues to serve as the foundation of thought for evolutionary biology. Since Darwin’s time, however, new fields of science have immerged that simply give us better answers to the question of origins. With a Ph.D. in cell and developmental biology from Harvard University, Dr. Nathaniel Jeanson is uniquely qualified to investigate what genetics reveal about origins. The Origins Puzzle Comes Together If the science surrounding origins were a puzzle, Darwin would have had fewer than 15% of the pieces to work with when he developed his theory of evolution. We now have a much greater percentage of the pieces because of modern scientific research. As Dr. Jeanson puts the new pieces together, a whole new picture emerges, giving us a testable, predictive model to explain the origin of species. A New Scientific Revolution Begins Darwin’s theory of evolution may be one of science’s “sacred cows,” but genetics research is proving it wrong. Changing an entrenched narrative, even if it’s wrong, is no easy task. Replacing Darwin asks you to consider the possibility that, based on genetics research, our origins are more easily understood in the context of . . . In the beginning . . . God, with the timeline found in the biblical narrative of Genesis. There is a better answer to the origins debate than what we have been led to believe. Let the revolution begin! About the Author Dr. Nathaniel Jeanson is a scientist and a scholar, trained in one of the most prestigious universities in the world. He earned his B.S. in Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and his PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology from Harvard University. As an undergraduate, he researched the molecular control of photosynthesis, and his graduate work involved investigating the molecular and physiological control of adult blood stem cells. His findings have been presented at regional and national conferences and have been published in peer-reviewed journals, such as Blood, Nature, and Cell. Since 2009, he has been actively researching the origin of species, both at the Institute for Creation Research and at Answers in Genesis. |
| the descent of man: Evidence as to Man's Place in Nature Thomas Henry Huxley, 1863 |
| the descent of man: Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex Charles Darwin, 2004 Excerpt from The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex The nature of the following work will be best under stood by a brief account of how it came to be written. Dur ing many years I colleeted'notes on the origin or descent of man, without any intention of publishing on the subject, but rather with the determination not to publish, as I thought that I should thus only add to the prejudices against my views. It seemed to me sufficient to indicate, in the first edition of my Origin of Species, ' that by this work light would be thrown on the origin of man and his history; and this implies that man must be included with other organic beings in any general conclusion respecting his man ner of appearance on this earth. Now the case wears a wholly different aspect. When a naturalist like Carl Vogt ventures to say in his address as President of the National Institution of Geneva personne, en Europe au moins, n'ose plus soutenir la creation indépendante et de toutcs pieces, des espéees, it is manifest that at least a large number of naturalists must admit that species are the modi fied descendants of other species; and this especially holds good with the younger and rising naturalists. The greater number accept the agency of natural selection; though some urge, whether with justice the future must decide, that I have greatly overrated its importance. Of the older and honoured chiefs in natural science, many unfortunately are still opposed to evolution in every form. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works. |
| the descent of man: The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex Charles Darwin, 2023-02-24 Reprint of the original, first published in 1871. The publishing house Anatiposi publishes historical books as reprints. Due to their age, these books may have missing pages or inferior quality. Our aim is to preserve these books and make them available to the public so that they do not get lost. |
| the descent of man: Descent of Man T.C. Boyle, 1990-07-27 In seventeen slices of life that defy the expected and launch us into the absurd, T.C. Boyle offers his unique view of the world. A primate-center researcher becomes romantically involved with a chimp; a Norse poet overcomes bard-block; collectors compete to snare the ancient Aztec beer can, Quetzacoatl Lite; and Lassie abandons Timmy for a randy coyote. Dark humor, delirious fantasy, and surreal satire come together in this collection that brilliantly expresses just what the evolution of mankind has wrought. |
| the descent of man: The Descent Jeff Long, 1999-11-12 We are not alone. Some call them devils or demons. But they are real. They are down there. And they are waiting for us to find them. In a cave in the Himalayas, a guide discovers a self-mutilated body with a warning: Satan exists. In the Kalahari Desert, a nun unearths evidence of a proto-human species and a deity called Older-than-Old. In Bosnia, something has been feeding upon the dead in a mass grave. So begins mankind’s most shocking realization: the underworld is a vast geological labyrinth populated by another race of beings. With all of Hell's precious resources and territories to be won, a global race ensues. Nations, armies, religions, and industries rush to colonize and exploit the subterranean frontier. A scientific expedition is launched westward to explore beneath the Pacific Ocean floor, both to catalog the riches there and to learn how life could develop in the sunless abyss. But in the dark underground, as humanity falls away from them, the scientists and mercenaries find themselves prey not only to the savage creatures, but also to their own treachery, mutiny, and greed. One thing is certain: Miles inside the earth, evil is very much alive. |
| the descent of man: Darwin Devolves Michael J. Behe, 2019-02-26 The scientist who has been dubbed the “Father of Intelligent Design” and author of the groundbreaking book Darwin’s Black Box contends that recent scientific discoveries further disprove Darwinism and strengthen the case for an intelligent creator. In his controversial bestseller Darwin’s Black Box, biochemist Michael Behe challenged Darwin’s theory of evolution, arguing that science itself has proven that intelligent design is a better explanation for the origin of life. In Darwin Devolves, Behe advances his argument, presenting new research that offers a startling reconsideration of how Darwin’s mechanism works, weakening the theory’s validity even more. A system of natural selection acting on random mutation, evolution can help make something look and act differently. But evolution never creates something organically. Behe contends that Darwinism actually works by a process of devolution—damaging cells in DNA in order to create something new at the lowest biological levels. This is important, he makes clear, because it shows the Darwinian process cannot explain the creation of life itself. “A process that so easily tears down sophisticated machinery is not one which will build complex, functional systems,” he writes. In addition to disputing the methodology of Darwinism and how it conflicts with the concept of creation, Behe reveals that what makes Intelligent Design unique—and right—is that it acknowledges causation. Evolution proposes that organisms living today are descended with modification from organisms that lived in the distant past. But Intelligent Design goes a step further asking, what caused such astounding changes to take place? What is the reason or mechanism for evolution? For Behe, this is what makes Intelligent Design so important. |
| the descent of man: On Natural Selection Charles Darwin, 2004-09-02 Published amid a firestorm of controversy in 1859, this is a book that changed the world. Reasoned and well-documented in its arguments, it offers coherent views of natural selection, adaptation, the struggle for existence, survival of the fittest, and other concepts that form the foundation of evolutionary theory. |
| the descent of man: Kin Gary Frank, 2002 Neanderthal man lives among us. Or at least he did until his discovery by the sinister S.I.A. who proceed to ruthlessly exterminate these ancient people in pursuit of their strange and potent technology. Now, one Neanderthal survivor, along with his desperate group of friends, must then try to right the wrongs done to his people and prevent the Neanderthals' power from falling into the hands of evil! One of last years most intriguing series is collected here for the first time with an added six new pages of art and story plus a brand-new cover by artist and KIN creator Gary Frank! |
| the descent of man: The Philosophy of Human Evolution Michael Ruse, 2012-01-12 Provides a unique discussion of human evolution from a philosophical viewpoint, covering such issues as religion, race and gender. |
| the descent of man: On the Origin of Species (Annotated) First Edition Charles Darwin, 2020-08-16 This is the first edition of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species, published on November 24, 1859 in London by John Murray. It is a seminal work in scientific literature and a landmark work in evolutionary biology. It introduced the theory that populations evolve over the course of generations through a process of natural selection. It presented a body of evidence that the diversity of life arose by common descent through a branching pattern of evolution. The starting chapters introduce the theory of natural selection, explaining why certain species thrive, while others decrease in number, how the members of nature are in competition with each other and why organisms tend to vary and change with time. Much of this work is based on experiments and observations seen within domestic animals and plants. The later chapters defend the theory of natural selection against apparent inconsistencies, why geological records are incomplete, why we find species so widespread and how sterility can be inherited when the organisation is unable to reproduce and more. The book is approachable for any audience. |
| the descent of man: The Descent Of Man And Selection In Relation To Sex Charles Darwin, 2019-06-27 This book is a result of an effort made by us towards making a contribution to the preservation and repair of original classic literature. In an attempt to preserve, improve and recreate the original content, we have worked towards: 1. Type-setting & Reformatting: The complete work has been re-designed via professional layout, formatting and type-setting tools to re-create the same edition with rich typography, graphics, high quality images, and table elements, giving our readers the feel of holding a 'fresh and newly' reprinted and/or revised edition, as opposed to other scanned & printed (Optical Character Recognition - OCR) reproductions. 2. Correction of imperfections: As the work was re-created from the scratch, therefore, it was vetted to rectify certain conventional norms with regard to typographical mistakes, hyphenations, punctuations, blurred images, missing content/pages, and/or other related subject matters, upon our consideration. Every attempt was made to rectify the imperfections related to omitted constructs in the original edition via other references. However, a few of such imperfections which could not be rectified due to intentional\unintentional omission of content in the original edition, were inherited and preserved from the original work to maintain the authenticity and construct, relevant to the work. We believe that this work holds historical, cultural and/or intellectual importance in the literary works community, therefore despite the oddities, we accounted the work for print as a part of our continuing effort towards preservation of literary work and our contribution towards the development of the society as a whole, driven by our beliefs. We are grateful to our readers for putting their faith in us and accepting our imperfections with regard to preservation of the historical content. HAPPY READING! |
| the descent of man: The Origin Of Species Charles Darwin, 2003-09-02 Charles Darwin’s classic that exploded into public controversy, revolutionized the course of science, and continues to transform our views of the world. Few other books have created such a lasting storm of controversy as The Origin of Species. Darwin’s theory that species derive from other species by a gradual evolutionary process and that the average level of each species is heightened by the “survival of the fittest” stirred up popular debate to fever pitch. Its acceptance revolutionized the course of science. As Sir Julian Huxley, the noted biologist, points out in his illuminating introduction, the importance of Darwin’s contribution to modern scientific knowledge is almost impossible to evaluate: “a truly great book, one which can still be read with profit by professional biologist.” Includes an Introduction by Sir Julian Huxley |
| the descent of man: National Negro Health Week ... , 1934 |
| the descent of man: From So Simple a Beginning Charles Darwin, 2010-08-31 Hailed as superior by Nature, this landmark volume is available in a collectible, boxed edition. Never before have the four great works of Charles Darwin—Voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle (1845), The Origin of Species (1859), The Descent of Man (1871), and The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals (1872)—been collected under one cover. Undertaking this challenging endeavor 123 years after Darwin's death, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Edward O. Wilson has written an introductory essay for the occasion, while providing new, insightful introductions to each of the four volumes and an afterword that examines the fate of evolutionary theory in an era of religious resistance. In addition, Wilson has crafted a creative new index to accompany these four texts, which links the nineteenth-century, Darwinian evolutionary concepts to contemporary biological thought. Beautifully slipcased, and including restored versions of the original illustrations, From So Simple a Beginning turns our attention to the astounding power of the natural creative process and the magnificence of its products. |
| the descent of man: The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex Charles Darwin, 2003-02-21 |
| the descent of man: Darwin's Sacred Cause Adrian Desmond, James Moore, 2014-11-11 An “arresting” and deeply personal portrait that “confront[s] the touchy subject of Darwin and race head on” (The New York Times Book Review). It’s difficult to overstate the profound risk Charles Darwin took in publishing his theory of evolution. How and why would a quiet, respectable gentleman, a pillar of his parish, produce one of the most radical ideas in the history of human thought? Drawing on a wealth of manuscripts, family letters, diaries, and even ships’ logs, Adrian Desmond and James Moore have restored the moral missing link to the story of Charles Darwin’s historic achievement. Nineteenth-century apologists for slavery argued that blacks and whites had originated as separate species, with whites created superior. Darwin, however, believed that the races belonged to the same human family. Slavery was therefore a sin, and abolishing it became Darwin’s sacred cause. His theory of evolution gave a common ancestor not only to all races, but to all biological life. This “masterful” book restores the missing moral core of Darwin’s evolutionary universe, providing a completely new account of how he came to his shattering theories about human origins (Publishers Weekly, starred review). It will revolutionize your view of the great naturalist. “An illuminating new book.” —Smithsonian “Compelling . . . Desmond and Moore aptly describe Darwin’s interaction with some of the thorniest social and political issues of the day.” —Wired “This exciting book is sure to create a stir.” —Janet Browne, Aramont Professor of the History of Science, Harvard University, and author of Charles Darwin: Voyaging |
THE DESCENT OF MAN - Archive.org
PART I. THE DESCENT OR ORIGIN OF MAN. CHAPTER I. The Evidence of the Descent of Man from some Lower Form. Nature of the evidence bearing on the origin of man--Homologous …
THE DESCENT OF MAN, - WordPress.com
THE REASONfor reissuing Charles Darwin's Descent of Man in 1981, one hundred and ten years after its first appearance, is that it addresses an extraordinary number of problems that are, at …
The Descent of Man - Archive.org
THE EVIDENCE OF THE DESCENT OF MAN FROM SOME LOWER FORM. Nature of the evidence bearing on the origin of man—Homologous structures in man and the lower …
The Descent of Man Charles Darwin (1874) - Portal PUC …
The Descent of Man (2nd ed.) Charles Darwin (1874) Originally published London: J. Murray. Table Of Contents INTRODUCTION PART ONE DESCENT OR ORIGIN OF MAN CHAPTER …
THE DESCENT OF MAN AND SELECTION IN RELATION TO SEX
Release Date: November 28, 1999 [eBook #2300] [Most recently updated: March 26, 2021] Language: English. Character set encoding: UTF-8. Produced by: Sue Asscher and David …
The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex by …
The Descent of Man I Charles Darwin The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex by Charles Darwin PART I. THE DESCENT OR ORIGIN OF MAN Part 1 of 3 of a book on …
The Descent of Man - Gaston Renard
THE DESCENT OF MAN, and Selection in Relation to Sex. With an introduction by John Tyler Bonner and Robert M. May. 2 vols. in 1, Facsimile of First Edition; pp. lxii, [vi], 424; [iii]-x, …
darwin the descent of man - historycourses.weebly.com
THE DESCENT OF MAN The Descent of Man, and Selection in …
the rudimentary organs in man, which in all other species are justly held among the most important indications of affinities. One such rudiment is mentioned which is, we believe, hitherto...
THE DESCENT OF MAN, - De Gruyter
THE DESCENT OF MAN, AND SELECTION IN RELATION TO SEX by Charles Darwin With an Introduction by John Tyler Bonner and Robert M. May PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS …
“The Descent of Man,” 150 years on - afuentes.com
evolutionary science of humans instead of “man.” – A gu s tí n F u en t e s “The Descent of Man,” 150 years on Agustín Fuentes is a professor of anthropology at Princeton University, Princeton, …
â The Descent of Man,â 150 years on - Science | AAAS
May 21, 2021 · Challenging the status quo, Darwin deployed natural and sexual selection, and his recently adopted “survival of the fittest,” producing scenarios for the emergence of humankind. …
Darwin’s Descent of Man and The Expression of Emotions
books The Descent of Man and The Expression of Emotions. As the chapter explains, the primary scientific importance of The Descent of Man is that it extends the evo-lutionary concept of …
THE DESCENT OF MAN, - web.seducoahuila.gob.mx
three great classes of facts on the origin of man. He who wishes to decide whether man is the modified descendant of some pre-existing form, would probably first enquire whether man …
Descent of Man [ 1871 ] - MIT OpenCourseWare
The moral nature of man has reached its present standard, partly through the advancement of his reasoning powers and consequently of a just public opinion, but especially from his sympathies …
Charles Darwin’s The Descent of Man (1871), excerpts
Man may be excused for feeling some pride at having risen, though not through his own exertions, to the very summit of the organic scale; and the fact of his having thus risen, instead of having …
‘On the Origin of Species’ ‘The Descent of Man.’
‘On the Origin of Species’ and ‘The Descent of Man.’ Darwin was well respected by other prominent scientists of the day. Because of his important contributions to natural history, his …
The Descent of Man - JSTOR
The Descent of Man Robert J. Richards DARWIN'S SACRED CAUSE: How a Hatred of Slavery Shaped Darwin's Views on Human Evolution. Adrian Desmond and James Moore, xxii + 485 …
Darwin foreshadowed modern scientific theories - Phys.org
This week, three leading scientists in different, but related disciplines published "Modern theories of human evolution foreshadowed by Darwin's 'Descent of Man'," in Science, in which they...
The Descent of Man and Selection - Library of Rickandria
structure in man could not be explained through natural selection, I invented sexual selection; I gave, however, a tolerably clear sketch of this principle in the first edition of the 'Origin of …
THE DESCENT OF MAN - Archive.org
PART I. THE DESCENT OR ORIGIN OF MAN. CHAPTER I. The Evidence of the Descent of Man from some Lower Form. Nature of the evidence bearing on the origin of man--Homologous …
THE DESCENT OF MAN, - WordPress.com
THE REASONfor reissuing Charles Darwin's Descent of Man in 1981, one hundred and ten years after its first appearance, is that it addresses an extraordinary number of problems that are, at …
The Descent of Man - Archive.org
THE EVIDENCE OF THE DESCENT OF MAN FROM SOME LOWER FORM. Nature of the evidence bearing on the origin of man—Homologous structures in man and the lower …
THE DESCENT OF MAN AND SELECTION IN RELATION TO SEX
Release Date: November 28, 1999 [eBook #2300] [Most recently updated: March 26, 2021] Language: English. Character set encoding: UTF-8. Produced by: Sue Asscher and David …
The Descent of Man - Gaston Renard
THE DESCENT OF MAN, and Selection in Relation to Sex. With an introduction by John Tyler Bonner and Robert M. May. 2 vols. in 1, Facsimile of First Edition; pp. lxii, [vi], 424; [iii]-x, …
darwin the descent of man - historycourses.weebly.com
explain the origin of man as a distinct species by descent from some lower form, through the laws of variation and natural selection, than to explain the birth of the individual through the laws of …
THE DESCENT OF MAN The Descent of Man, and Selection …
the rudimentary organs in man, which in all other species are justly held among the most important indications of affinities. One such rudiment is mentioned which is, we believe, hitherto...
“The Descent of Man,” 150 years on - afuentes.com
evolutionary science of humans instead of “man.” – A gu s tí n F u en t e s “The Descent of Man,” 150 years on Agustín Fuentes is a professor of anthropology at Princeton University, …
â The Descent of Man,â 150 years on - Science | AAAS
May 21, 2021 · Challenging the status quo, Darwin deployed natural and sexual selection, and his recently adopted “survival of the fittest,” producing scenarios for the emergence of humankind. …
Darwin’s Descent of Man and The Expression of Emotions
books The Descent of Man and The Expression of Emotions. As the chapter explains, the primary scientific importance of The Descent of Man is that it extends the evo-lutionary concept of …
Descent of Man [ 1871 ] - MIT OpenCourseWare
The moral nature of man has reached its present standard, partly through the advancement of his reasoning powers and consequently of a just public opinion, but especially from his …
THE DESCENT OF MAN, - web.seducoahuila.gob.mx
three great classes of facts on the origin of man. He who wishes to decide whether man is the modified descendant of some pre-existing form, would probably first enquire whether man …
Charles Darwin’s The Descent of Man (1871), excerpts
Man may be excused for feeling some pride at having risen, though not through his own exertions, to the very summit of the organic scale; and the fact of his having thus risen, instead of having …
‘On the Origin of Species’ ‘The Descent of Man.’
‘On the Origin of Species’ and ‘The Descent of Man.’ Darwin was well respected by other prominent scientists of the day. Because of his important contributions to natural history, his …
Darwin foreshadowed modern scientific theories - Phys.org
This week, three leading scientists in different, but related disciplines published "Modern theories of human evolution foreshadowed by Darwin's 'Descent of Man'," in Science, in which they...
THE DESCENT OF MAN - Nature
SCIENCE FICTION. THE DESCENT OF MAN. A precarious position. BY C H R I STO P H W E B E R. one moment, the afternoon air sus-pends me 50 feet above the earth. For one moment, I …
The Descent of Man and the Evolution of Woman - JSTOR
The Descent of Man and the Evolution of Woman PENELOPE DEUTSCHER This paper addresses the appropriation of theories of evolution by nineteenth-century feminists, focusing …
April 3, 1871] NATURE
THE DESCENT OF MAN. Tiu Descent of .llfan, and Selection in relation to Sex. By Charles Darwin, M.A., F.R.S., &c. In two volumes. Pp. 428, 475. (Murray, I 871.) II.
Modern theories of human evolution foreshadowed by …
Charles Darwin’s The Descent of Man, published 150 years ago, laid the grounds for scientific studies into human origins and evolution. Three of his insights have been reinforced by …
Review of Y: The Descent of Men by Steve Jones - SAGE …
Y: The Descent of Men by Steve Jones (2003). Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0-618-13930-3. John Archer, Department of Psychology, University of Central …
