The Descent of Man
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Book Overview
In The Descent of Man (1871, 1874) Charles Darwin (1809-1882) focused special attention on the origin and history of our own species, a subject he had avoided in his previous writings on evolution. He claimed that the human animal is closest in ancestry to the two African "pongids," or anthropoid apes (chimpanzees and gorillas). Further, Darwin held that our species and these two pongids differ merely in degree rather than in kind - a controversial view that contradicted religious doctrine. The Descent of Man looks at the emergence of humans in terms of primate evolution. Darwin presents a strictly mechanistic and materialist interpretation of our species that is free from superstition and spiritualism.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:1573921769
ISBN13:9781573921763
Release Date:December 1997
Publisher:Prometheus Books
Length:698 Pages
Weight:1.89 lbs.
Dimensions:1.5" x 5.2" x 8.8"
Related Subjects
Adaptation History Psychology Science Science & Math Science & Scientists Science & TechnologyCustomer Reviews
4 ratings
El origen del hombre (I)
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 14 years ago
Clean new copy. I do wish that books would be in hardback though. Then you would not have to always have your hands holding the book. And I reject the suggestion that I am old fashioned; no it is simply a more practical form of a book.
Excellent historical review
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
While I would never presume - as some reviewers might - to misstate what is said in this classic volume and then presume to suggest that "now you don't need to read the book," I will say that this is an excellent edition of a classic work. All who have any interest in the history of Darwinian evolution and particularly the historical views of the evolution of man will find this fascinating reading, particularly if the context can be juxtaposed with what has been discovered since Darwin's time. Of course, times have changed, our hopefully less euro-centric views have been altered and there has been considerable progress through the generations since the original publication by Darwin, and that makes the progress of human knowledge all the more fascinating, as well as the insight Darwin obviously possessed in his day. This one's a "must-read" for anyone interested in the history of science.
More than meets the highest standards.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
How is it possible that anyone could be as ignorant as Rondeltap and give this great classic less than 5 stars? Given that it was written in the middle of the 19th Century, it more than meets the highest scientific standards of its time. Furthermore, except perhaps for Darwin's own Origin, it is arguably one of the most important works of its era. When we find that the writings of Marx, Kant and many other giants of that Century can no longer instruct us, we shall find this one still penetratingly relevant.
Interesting view into the views of the late 19th Century
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
Although there are many racist and sexist ideas, this was the climate in which Darwin wrote this book. Many of the details are grossly in error, but the book was written over 100 years ago. Many advances in knowledge have been made since then. The basic premise, and the fact that Darwin looked to the African apes as a point of origin for humans is the real beauty of the book. Darwin is many times falsely blamed for "Social Darwinism" which he never proposed nor advocated. Just because someone uses Darwin as a justification for negative ideas and or actions, does not mean that Darwin should be vilified for it. Descent was not a social commentary, but a scientific treatise, and should be treated as such.
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