The most accessible edition ever published of Darwin's incendiary classic, edited by "as fine a science essayist as we have" (New York Times) The Descent of Man, Darwin's second landmark work on evolutionary theory (following The Origin of the Species), marked a turning point in the history of science with its modern vision of human nature as the product of evolution. Darwin argued that the noblest features of humans, such as language and morality, were the result of the same natural processes that produced iris petals and scorpion tails. To convey the revolutionary importance of this groundbreaking book, renowned evolutionary science writer Carl Zimmer edited this special abridged edition—made up of nine excerpts, each one representing one of Darwin's major themes—and wrote illuminating introductions to each section, as well as an overall introduction. Zimmer brilliantly places Darwin's basic ideas in the context of the current understanding of human nature and twenty-first-century DNA research. By accessibly presenting Darwin's thinking to a modern readership, Zimmer eloquently demonstrates Darwin's ever-increasing relevance and amazing scientific insight.
Unique in that it focuses on formulation and case studies ratherthan solutions procedures covering applications for pure,generalized and integer networks, equivalent formulations plussuccessful techniques of network models. Every chapter contains asimple model which is expanded to handle more complicateddevelopments, a synopsis of existing applications, one or more casestudies, at least 20 exercises and invaluable references. An Instructor's Manual presenting detailed solutions to all theproblems in the book is available upon request from the Wileyeditorial department.
In The Descent of ManDarwin addresses many of the issues raised by his notorious Origin of Species: finding in the traits and instincts of animals the origins of the mental abilities of humans, of language, of our social structures and our moral capacities, he attempts to show that there is no clear dividing line between animals and humans. Most importantly, he accounts for what Victorians called the ‘races’ of mankind by means of what he calls sexual selection. This book presents a full explanation of Darwin’s ideas about sexual selection, including his belief that many important characteristics of human beings and animals have emerged in response to competition for mates. This was a controversial work. Yet Darwin tried hard to avoid being branded as a radical revolutionary. He is steeped in Victorian sensibilities regarding gender and cultural differences: he sees human civilization as a move from barbarous savagery to modern gentlefolk, and women as more emotional and less intellectual than men, thus providing a biological basis for the social assumptions and prejudices of the day. The Descent of Man played a major role in the emergence of social Darwinism. This complete version of the first edition gives the modern reader an unparalleled opportunity to engage directly with Darwin’s proposals, launched in the midst of continuing controversy over On the Origin of Species. Janet Browne is the author of the prize-winning biography, Charles Darwin: Voyagingand Charles Darwin: The Power of Place.
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This is an annotated version of the book1.contains an updated biography of the author at the end of the book for a better understanding of the text.2.This book has been checked and corrected for spelling errorsWhen on board H.M.S. 'Beagle,' as naturalist, I was much struck withcertain facts in the distribution of the inhabitants of South America,and in the geological relations of the present to the past inhabitantsof that continent. These facts seemed to me to throw some light on theorigin of species--that mystery of mysteries, as it has been called byone of our greatest philosophers. On my return home, it occurred to me,in 1837, that something might perhaps be made out on this question bypatiently accumulating and reflecting on all sorts of facts which couldpossibly have any bearing on it. After five years' work I allowed myselfto speculate on the subject, and drew up some short notes; these Ienlarged in 1844 into a sketch of the conclusions, which then seemed tome probable: from that period to the present day I have steadily pursuedthe same object. I hope that I may be excused for entering on thesepersonal details, as I give them to show that I have not been hasty incoming to a decision.My work is now nearly finished; but as it will take me two or three moreyears to complete it, and as my health is far from strong, I have beenurged to publish this Abstract. I have more especially been induced todo this, as Mr. Wallace, who is now studying the natural history ofthe Malay archipelago, has arrived at almost exactly the same generalconclusions that I have on the origin of species. Last year he sent tome a memoir on this subject, with a request that I would forward itto Sir Charles Lyell, who sent it to the Linnean Society, and it ispublished in the third volume of the Journal of that Society. Sir C.Lyell and Dr. Hooker, who both knew of my work--the latter having readmy sketch of 1844--honoured me by thinking it advisable to publish, withMr. Wallace's excellent memoir, some brief extracts from my manuscripts.This Abstract, which I now publish, must necessarily be imperfect. Icannot here give references and authorities for my several statements;and I must trust to the reader reposing some confidence in my accuracy.No doubt errors will have crept in, though I hope I have always beencautious in trusting to good authorities alone. I can here give onlythe general conclusions at which I have arrived, with a few facts inillustration, but which, I hope, in most cases will suffice. No one canfeel more sensible than I do of the necessity of hereafter publishing indetail all the facts, with references, on which my conclusions have beengrounded; and I hope in a future work to do this. For I am well awarethat scarcely a single point is discussed in this volume on which factscannot be adduced, often apparently leading to conclusions directlyopposite to those at which I have arrived. A fair result can be obtainedonly by fully stating and balancing the facts and arguments on bothsides of each question; and this cannot possibly be here done.I much regret that want of space prevents my having the satisfaction ofacknowledging the generous assistance which I have received from verymany naturalists, some of them personally unknown to me. I cannot,however, let this opportunity pass without expressing my deepobligations to Dr. Hooker, who for the last fifteen years has aided mein every possible way by his large stores of knowledge and his excellentjudgment.
Unique in that it focuses on formulation and case studies ratherthan solutions procedures covering applications for pure,generalized and integer networks, equivalent formulations plussuccessful techniques of network models. Every chapter contains asimple model which is expanded to handle more complicateddevelopments, a synopsis of existing applications, one or more casestudies, at least 20 exercises and invaluable references. An Instructor's Manual presenting detailed solutions to all theproblems in the book is available upon request from the Wileyeditorial department.
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