The Descent Of Man By Charles Darwin (Paperback, 2013)

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In The Descent of Man Darwin addresses many of the issues raised by his notorious Origin of Species finding in the traits & instincts of animals the origins of the mental abilities of humans of language of our social structures & our moral capacities he attempts to show that there is no clear dividing line between animals & 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 & 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 & cultural differences he sees human civilization as a move from barbarous savagery to modern gentlefolk & women as more emotional & less intellectual than men thus providing a biological basis for the social assumptions & 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 Voyaging & Charles Darwin The Power of Place