The Action of Natural Selection on Man (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from The Action of Natural Selection on Man

But while on this question of man's antiquity there is a very general agreement, - and all are waiting eagerly for fresh evidence to Clear up those points which all admit to be full of doubt, - ou other, and not less obscure and difficult questions, a considerable amount of dogmatism is exhibited doctrines are put forward as established truths, no doubt or hesitation is admitted, and 'it seems to be supposed that no other further evidence is required, or that any new facts can modify our convie tions. This is especially the Case when we inquire Are the various forms under which man now exists primitive, or derived from pre-existent forms; in other words, is'man of one or many species? To this question we immediately obtain distinct answers diametrically apposed to each other: the one party positively main taining that man is a species and is essentially one - that all differences are but local and temporary variations, produced by the difl'erent physical and moral conditions by which he is surrounded the other party maintaining with 'equal confidence, that man is a genus of many species, each of which is practically unchangeable, and has ever been as distinct, or even more distinct, than we now behold them. This difference of Opinion is somewhat remarkable, when we consider that both parties are well acquainted with the subject; both use the same vast accumulation of facts 5 both reject those(5)

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