Man's Place in Nature, and Other EssaysHuxley, Thomas Henry
Science
Man's Place in Nature, and Other Essays
Huxley, Thomas Henry
Apes; Ethnology; Human beings -- Origin; Indo-Europeans
"But no one pretends now, that the controversy is one of
terms or of opinions. Novel and devoid of authority as
some of Professor Owen's proposed definitions may have
been, they might be accepted without changing the great
features of the case. Hence, though special investigations
into these matters have been undertaken during the last
two years by Dr. Allen Thomson, by Dr. Rolleston, by Mr.
Marshall, and by Mr. Flower, all, as you are aware,
anatomists of repute in this country, and by Professors
Schroeder Van der Kolk, and Vrolik (whom Professor Owen
incautiously tried to press into his own service) on the
Continent, all these able and conscientious observers have
with one accord testified to the accuracy of my
statements, and to the utter baselessness of the
assertions of Professor Owen. Even the venerable Rudolph
Wagner, whom no man will accuse of progressionist
proclivities, has raised his voice on the same side; while
not a single anatomist, great or small, has supported
Professor Owen.
"Now, I do not mean to suggest that scientific differences
should be settled by universal suffrage, but I do conceive
that solid proofs must be met by something more than empty
and unsupported assertions. Yet during the two years
through which this preposterous controversy has dragged
its weary length, Professor Owen has not ventured to
bring forward a single preparation in support of his
often-repeated assertions.
"The case stands thus, therefore:--Not only are the
statements made by me in consonance with the doctrines of
the best older authorities, and with those of all recent
investigators, but I am quite ready to demonstrate them on
the first monkey that comes to hand; while Professor
Owen's assertions are not only in diametrical opposition
to both old and new authorities, but he has not produced,
and, I will add, cannot produce, a single preparation
which justifies them."
I now leave this subject, for the present.--For the credit of my calling
I should be glad to be, hereafter, for ever silent upon it. But,
unfortunately, this is a matter upon which, after all that has occurred,
no mistake or confusion of terms is possible--and in affirming that the
posterior lobe, the posterior cornu, and the hippocampus minor exist in
certain Apes, I am stating either that which is true, or that which I
must know to be false. The question has thus become one of personal
veracity. For myself, I will accept no other issue than this, grave as
it is, to the present controversy.
FOOTNOTES:
[25] It will be understood that, in the preceding Essay, I have selected
for notice from the vast mass of papers which have been written upon the
man-like Apes, only those which seem to me to be of special moment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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