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One of the ten most significant books. (Sigmund Freud)
Book Description
No book made a greater impact on the intellectual world of its first Victorian readers nor has had such an enduring influence on our thinking on science, literature, theology and philosophy. In "The Descent of Man", Darwin addresses the crucial question of the origins, evolution and racial divergence of mankind, that he had deliberately left out of "On the Origin of Species". And the evidence he presents forces us to question what it is that makes us uniquely human.
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First Sentence
He who wishes to decide whether man is the modified descendant of some pre-existing form, would probably first enquire whether man varies, however slightly, in bodily structure and in mental faculties; and if so, whether the variations are transmitted to his offspring in accordance with the laws which prevail with the lower animals. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
He who wishes to decide whether man is the modified descendant of some pre-existing form, would probably first enquire whether man varies, however slightly, in bodily structure and in mental faculties; and if so, whether the variations are transmitted to his offspring in accordance with the laws which prevail with the lower animals. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cautious Science at its Best,
This review is from: The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex (Paperback)
This book contains a wealth of facts, compiled during Darwin's life on matters which were highly controversial at the time. His prior book, Origin of Species, provided the scientific framework for thinking that mankind might, in some way, be a descent from the animal kingdom. For personal reasons, there was some doubt, at the time, whether it would ever be diplomatic to admit such a thing to the human beings themselves, right in their very faces. The title which Darwin placed on this book showed how easy it would be to imagine that the fundamental distinction was closely linked to the question of whom an individual might choose to have sex with, given the great parallels to a wide range of behavior in the animal kingdom. I have looked in this book for evidence that philosophy is a set of ideas adopted mainly in relation to sex, but the philosophy of the fittest for that kind of activity seems to be a bit more modern than Darwin. On a scale of stillborn to born with a brain, Darwin was definitely born with a brain, but it didn't make him crazy enough to suggest that which we may imply ourselves. There are a lot of facts in this book, compared to the number of suggestions, but it shows a considerable amount of thought.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The role of beauty in evolution,
This review is from: The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex (Paperback)
This book opened my eyes to the role of beauty in evolution. Darwin notes that it is difficult to accept that 'mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish' share the 'high taste of beauty which generally coincides with our own standard' and that this is an important driving force in biological and social evolution. This thesis is in striking contrast to the ideas entertained in currend evolutionary psychology, where judgements about beauty are considered with respect to their function regarding survival. It contrasts also with much current evolutionary thinking as Darwin is almost entirely concerned with expaining disfunctional, rather than functional, traits in terms of evolutionary theory. The thesis is not developed in full. It is, therefore, even more stimulating to read than if the thesis had been developed conclusively.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
More than meets the highest standards.,
By Benjamin Rossen "Benjamin" (Netherlands) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex (Paperback)
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.
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