The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex, Vol. I — John Shaqi
The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex, Vol. IDarwin, Charles
Science
The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex, Vol. I
Darwin, Charles
Evolution (Biology); Human beings -- Origin; Sex differences; Sexual dimorphism (Animals); Sexual selection in animals
The moral sense—Fundamental proposition—The qualities of
social animals—Origin of sociability—Struggle between opposed
instincts—Man and social animal—The more enduring social
instincts conquer other less persistent instincts—The social
virtues alone regarded by savages—The self-regarding virtues
acquired at a later stage of development—The importance of the
judgment of the members of the same community on
conduct—Transmission of moral tendencies—Summary 70-106
CHAPTER IV.
ON THE MANNER OF DEVELOPMENT OF MAN FROM SOME LOWER FORM.
Variability of body and mind in man—Inheritance—Causes of
variability—Laws of variation the same in man as in the lower
animals—Direct action of the conditions of life—Effects of
the increased use and disuse of parts—Arrested
development—Reversion—Correlated variation—Rate of
increase—Checks to increase—Natural selection—Man the most
dominant animal in the world—Importance of his corporeal
structure—The causes which have led to his becoming
erect—Consequent changes of structure—Decrease in size of the
canine teeth—Increased size and altered shape of the
skull—Nakedness—Absence of a tail—Defenceless condition of
man 107-157
CHAPTER V.
ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL FACULTIES
DURING PRIMEVAL AND CIVILISED TIMES.
The advancement of the intellectual powers through natural
selection—Importance of imitation—Social and moral
faculties—Their development within the limits of the same
tribe—Natural selection as affecting civilised
nations—Evidence that civilised nations were once barbarous 158-184
CHAPTER VI.
ON THE AFFINITIES AND GENEALOGY OF MAN.
Position of man in the animal series—The natural system
genealogical—Adaptive characters of slight value—Various
small points of resemblance between man and the
Quadrumana—Rank of man in the natural system—Birthplace and
antiquity of man—Absence of fossil connecting-links—Lower
stages in the genealogy of man, as inferred, firstly from his
affinities and secondly from his structure—Early androgynous
condition of the Vertebrata—Conclusion 185-213
CHAPTER VII.
ON THE RACES OF MAN.
The nature and value of specific characters—Application to the
races of man—Arguments in favour of, and opposed to, ranking
the so-called races of man as distinct species—Sub-species—
Monogenists and polygenists—Convergence of character—Numerous
points of resemblance in body and mind between the most
distinct races of man—The state of man when he first spread
over the earth—Each race not descended from a single
pair—The extinction of races—The formation of races—
The effects of crossing—Slight influence of the direct
action of the conditions of life—Slight or no influence of
natural selection—Sexual selection. 214-250
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account