Descent of Man Since Their Term Paper

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Although this theory totally impacted the world, Darwin's second book the Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex (1871) began a major debate, especially between religion and science. As he stated in the conclusion of his book, "The main conclusion here arrived at, and now held by many naturalists who are well competent to form a sound judgment is that man is descended from some less highly organized form."

He even theorized that intelligence and emotion could develop through natural selection.

However, he also stressed the difference between humans and lower animals. Man has a conscience and moral sense. In Chapter 4 he states: "any animal whatever, endowed with well-marked social instincts, the parental and filial affections being here included, would inevitably acquire a moral sense or conscience, as soon as its intellectual powers had become as well, or nearly as well developed, as in man."

In many ways Darwin's second book is of much more interest than the Origin of Species. When reading the Descent of Man it is easy to see how much this book must have impacted everyone at the time from the general public, to scientists to the clergy.

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It must have been fascinating to be living at this time when Darwin opens the doors to consider that man's present society, physiology and psychology all evolved from lower animals. The discussions that took place between different factions must have been very heated.

Even more of importance is the fact that the same issues that arose with Descent of Man continue to this day over a century later. This shows the impact that Darwin and this book had on history. Decent of Man should be read in order to see how the present-day creationism vs. evolution debate started.

Books Cited:

Darwin, C. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. (1859) Retrieved January 5, 2007 http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/origin.html

Darwin, C. Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex (1871). Retrieved January 5, 2007. http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/charles_darwin/descent_of_man/

Desmond, a. And Moore, J. (1991) the Life of a Tormented Evolutionist: Darwin

New York: Warner......

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