The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex

Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 4.8
Word count
1.8M words
Chapters
185

Tags

English Originals Natural Sciences Human OriginsNatural HistorySexual SelectionScientific MasterpieceNatural SelectionEvolution TheoryDarwinIntellectual EnlightenmentEvolutionary ThoughtAcademic Classic

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex by Charles DarwinAuthor: Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882,Language: English, Class: QH: Science: Natural history, Release Date: Aug 1, 2000

Editor's review

The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex is Darwin's major work after On the Origin of Species, systematically developing the questions of human origins and sexual selection. The book places humans within the broader picture of biological evolution, discusses the continuity between humans and animals, and draws on a wealth of observational material to argue for the role of sexual selection in the evolution of animal form and behavior. Its value lies not only in its conclusions but in its method of argument: from comparative anatomy and embryological development to behavioral observation, it advances layer by layer, showing how a naturalist confronts evidence and objections. As a public-domain eBook, the English original preserves the intricate syntax and dense exemplification of nineteenth-century academic writing; it is more demanding than popular science but well suited to close reading as a primary source in the history of science. Readers can use it to understand how evolutionary theory extended from natural selection to humankind itself, and how the concept of sexual selection shaped later biological discussion. Best read in sections, with an annotated edition or introductory guide.

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Reading tips

  1. Read the introduction and conclusion first to grasp the book's central questions, then return to each chapter to see how Darwin organizes evidence.
  2. Keep pen and paper to record key concepts and examples, distinguishing the different argumentative paths of natural selection and sexual selection.
  3. Read alongside a general history of evolutionary theory or an annotated edition to ease the obstacles of nineteenth-century English syntax and historical material.
  4. Read one chapter closely at a time, then restate its arguments and evidence in your own words rather than memorizing conclusions.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

Contents

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FAQ

Can I read this directly without having read On the Origin of Species? Yes, but it is advisable to first understand the basic framework of On the Origin of Species, especially the two core concepts of natural selection and common descent. This book extends those concepts to human origins and sexual selection; without any background, it is easy to lose the main thread in the accumulation of examples. Read a reliable introduction or a chapter from a general history first, then approach the original text.
Does this book mainly discuss human origins or sexual selection? Both, and they are interrelated. The first part discusses the evidence that humans evolved from lower animals and the continuity of human mental and social capacities; the second part focuses on sexual selection, including secondary sexual characteristics and mate choice in animals. Darwin treats sexual selection as a mechanism beyond natural selection, explaining many phenomena difficult to account for by the struggle for existence alone.
Are the views in the book still valid today? The core ideas retain historical and theoretical value; discussions of human–animal continuity and sexual selection as an evolutionary mechanism have been deeply influential. But many specific examples, explanations of hereditary mechanisms, and some anthropological judgments have been corrected or superseded. Read for Darwin's method of argument and his framing of questions rather than treating specific conclusions as current scientific consensus.
How difficult is the English original, and is it suitable for self-study? It is quite difficult. Nineteenth-century academic English has long sentences, dense examples, and many technical and species names; self-study requires patience and a habit of checking references. It is best read with an introductory guide, annotations, or a Chinese translation for comparison, in close chapter-by-chapter reading rather than for speed. With some biology background, following the argument structure will be much smoother.

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About the author

Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882 Author

Charles Darwin (1809–1882) was an English naturalist known worldwide for his theory of evolution. The library holds 37 of his works, including On the Origin of Species, The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, and The Voyage of the Beagle. On the Origin of Species sets out the mechanism of natural selection, The Descent of Man extends the evolutionary perspective to humankind, and The Voyage of the Beagle records his observations from a round-the-world expedition. His writing rests on careful observation and abundant empirical evidence, building arguments step by step in plain, rigorous prose that makes complex theory accessible to general readers. His works profoundly changed how we understand the origin and diversity of life and influenced fields far beyond biology. Public information is limited; this profile is based on the library's holdings and common knowledge.