Thomas Henry Huxley

Evidence as to Man's Place in Nature

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

In 1863, the biologist and educator Thomas Henry Huxley published Evidence as to Man's Place in Nature, a compilation of his public lectures on Darwin's theory of evolution - specifically the controversial idea of the ape ancestry of humans. An energetic supporter of Darwin, Huxley's argues that in order to understand the universe, everyone must know their place in the natural world. The book is divided into three parts, each written with the aim of persuading lay audiences. The first covers earlier human beliefs about exotic animals, especially 'man-like' apes. In Part 2, Huxley suggests that every animal on Earth is related in that all go through developmental stages from an egg, whether the animal is 'a silkworm or a school-boy'. Part 3 involves a discussion of recently discovered Neanderthal bones and compares prehistoric craniums to modern human skulls.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Cambridge University Press
• Seitenzahl: 172
• Erscheinungstermin: 24. Juli 2009
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 216mm x 140mm x 10mm
• Gewicht: 225g
• ISBN-13: 9781108004572
• ISBN-10: 1108004571
• Artikelnr.: 28183234

Autorenporträt

English scientist and anthropologist Thomas Henry Huxley, was an expert in comparative anatomy. Because of his support of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, he has come to be known as "Darwin's Bulldog". Although some historians believe that the surviving account of Huxley's well-known 1860 Oxford evolution discussion with Samuel Wilberforce is a later fabrication, the debate was a turning point in both his professional life and the broader acceptance of evolution. The day before, Huxley was about to depart Oxford, but he changed his mind and chose to participate in the debate after seeing Vestiges author Robert Chambers. Richard Owen, Wilberforce's coach, and Huxley engaged in an argument concerning the degree of human-ape relatedness. Huxley publicly endorsed Darwin despite being hesitant to embrace some of his theories, such as gradualism and his ambiguity on natural selection. He battled against the more radical interpretations of religious heritage and was crucial in the development of scientific education in Britain.