Customer Reviews

Penguin Classics Descent Of Man

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

First let me warn other readers: I agree with the other reviewers that this book is extremely racist and sexist and thus extremely offensive for non-white or female readers (Hitler's Mein Kampf is nothing in comparison!)This book may drive them crazy, they'd better not read it. To Darwin's discharge I must say that he wrote at a time where most readers were white males, so he was not expecting women or non-whites to read this book I guess he would be horrified if he saw that we have educated the "inferior races" (or "savages" as he calls them) and that we have also given equal rights to women.)

What I find most valuable with this book is that, after reading it, I realize it is the key for understanding the 20th century. I agree with the other reviewers that the 20th century has been mainly influenced by Darwinism. And I add that this happened not only in a direct way, but also indirectly through nazism/facism and marxism/socialism/communism (were'nt Marx and Engels darwinists, and did not Marx want to dedicate his book Das Kapital to Darwin, although the latter refused to have his name associated with marxism?) And was not WWI driven by the "biological necessity" of selection, as the Germans would put it? Darwin's Descent of Man helps understand why the 20th century was the bloodiest ever, with, besides WWI and WWII, the nazi's killing 6 millions innocent Jews (an inferior race according to Darwinism) and the socialists murdering over 100 millions innocents civilians who were not embracing socialism quickly enough. But Darwin's The Descent of Man explains also the differences in the birth policies of the socialist regimes. I now understand why the Chinese, unlike the Russians and East Europeans (white socialists), have applied such self-destructive anti-birth policies: because being Asian, they are, according to Darwinism, an inferior race, thus should disappear at some point to free space for the favored, most superior race (whites.)

Darwin's ideas still raise some questions. If whites are the most superior, favored race, and blacks on the contrary the most inferior race, why is it that whites have been strongly decreasing in proportion during the 20th century, whereas blacks have been proliferating? Even worse, whites will probably have become extinct over one or few centuries, whereas humans will be then blacks or hybrids with black blood, or arabic semites, latinos and Asian? Would this mean that whites, although the most evolved, are the most UNfit for survival, and hat on the contrary blacks are the most fit for survival? I wonder what Darwin would think of this.

If you want to know the real story, then read this book. Darwin was and is the authority on how we really came to be and where we are going. Everything in the book is accurate and well-researched. If you want to know the truth (and are not afraid of it), then read this book. As a companion read, I would recommend Jack London's Call of the Wild.

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.

A beautiful, historical account of a great naturalist's work. It is important to keep in mind that the book was written 129 years ago, though, since the use of the language would not be considered "politically correct" nowadays.

Darwin was someone "who viewed life on earth in terms of an evolutionary framework grounded in science and reason" (taken from the Introduction by H. James Birx). It is difficult to believe that an educated person would misinterpret his ideas as being sexist or racist. Only the ignorant (or a creationist in disguise) would attempt to discredit the work of one of the greatest minds of all times by giving it the wrong label. Reading Daniel C. Dennett's "Darwin Dangerous Idea" (highly recommended) might help to put it in the right context.

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.

In this book Darwin shows that the white race is superior to the other races and also that men are superior to women. This book give strong support for promoting and giving privileges to whites, and also for the subordination of women to men and their doing lower tasks. In a word, the book is 100% politically incorrect (both racist and sexist). However, given that darwinism is by far the ruling philosophy and science of our time, Darwin's views on humanity / society may overcome the pc censorship if divulgated to the masses, who don't know about this, Darwin's views being kept secret by the academia. People will do well to listen to the ideas of the genius who wrote this book, you read it, and may change your convictions on race and sex....

The book was excellent. Though it does dwell on various moral issues that I did find rather disconcerting, we should not critique a book on the basis of our own morality. Morality is a relative thing, both society and history influence it. Therefore, dialectically, you cannot hold a book--or author--to account for a moral system that didn't exist in his or her day.