The Descent of Man - And Selection in Relation to Sex

Published in 1871, The Descent of Man is Charles Darwin's groundbreaking work that systematically applies his theory of evolution by natural selection to the human species.

In this monumental text, Darwin addresses two primary subjects. First, he argues for the animal origin of humanity, examining physical and mental similarities between humans and other animals. He boldly proposes that humans descended from an older form and provides evidence for the evolution of human characteristics like intelligence, moral sense, and social structures.

Second, the book introduces and extensively develops the concept of Sexual Selection. Darwin argues that many striking features in the animal kingdom, particularly those seemingly detrimental to survival (like the peacock's elaborate tail or the stag's huge antlers), evolved not for survival in general, but as a result of competition among individuals of the same sex for mates, or from the preference of one sex for certain characteristics in the other. He then applies this mechanism to explain the origin of human racial differences.

The Descent of Man is a challenging and essential follow-up to On the Origin of Species, cementing Darwin's place as the central figure in the history of biological science and sparking fierce debate that continues to this day.

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