The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex (Princeton Science Library). Dieser Artikel ist nicht verfügbar.The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex (Princeton Science Library)

In the current resurgence of interest in the biological basis of animal behavior and social organization, the ideas and questions pursued by Charles Darwin remain fresh and insightful. This is especially true of The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex, Darwin's second most important work. This edition is a facsimile reprint of the first printing of the first edition (1871), not previously available in paperback. The work is divided into two parts. Part One marshals behavioral and morphological evidence to argue that humans evolved from other animals. Darwin shoes that human mental and emotional capacities, far from making human beings unique, are evidence of an animal origin and evolutionary development. Part Two is an extended discussion of the differences between the sexes of many species and how they arose as a result of selection. Here Darwin lays the foundation for much contemporary research by arguing that many characteristics of animals have evolved not in response to the selective pressures exerted by their physical and biological environment, but rather to confer an advantage in sexual competition. These two themes are drawn together in two final chapters on the role of sexual selection in humans. In their Introduction, Professors Bonner and May discuss the place of The Descent in its own time and relation to current work in biology and other disciplines.

Charles Darwin (1809-1882) was an English naturalist and geologist whose pioneering work laid the foundation for modern evolutionary biology. His seminal book, "On the Origin of Spe cies," introduced the theory of natural selection, revolutionizing our understanding of the development of life on Earth. Darwin's meticulous observations and extensive research during his voy age on the HMS Beagle provided critical insights into the mech anisms of evolution and the interconnectedness of species. His groundbreaking ideas challenged established beliefs and continue to influence scientific thought and discourse, cementing his lega cy as one of history's most influential scientists.