Book1874

The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex

Charles Darwin · 2nd edition

Book  · General readers · Public domain

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Darwin avoided the question of human origins in the Origin. Here he takes it on directly, arguing from similarities of structure and development, from rudimentary organs, and from the gradation of mental powers, and adding a long treatment of sexual selection.

Reading it fairly. Parts of the book reflect the racial views common in Victorian science. Where those passages carry an argument, the evaluation treats them as claims like any other and grades the evidence offered for them, without sensationalising them.

Author
Charles Darwin
Published
1874
Edition
2nd edition
Written for
General readers
Licence
Public domain. The full text is loaded from the source below and evaluated section by section.
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Pillars
Human Origins, Natural Selection

Contents

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  1. s01Preface To The Second Edition … Part II. Sexual Selectionabout 1,757 words
  2. s02Part III. Sexual Selection In Relation To Man, And Conclusion · Introductionabout 1,505 words
  3. s03Chapter I. The Evidence Of The Descent Of Man From Some Lower Formabout 8,950 words
  4. s04Chapter II. On The Manner Of Development Of Man From Some Lower Formabout 18,036 words
  5. s05Chapter III. Comparison Of The Mental Powers Of Man And The Lower Animalsabout 14,477 words
  6. s06Chapter IV. Comparison Of The Mental Powers Of Man And The Lower Animals—Continuedabout 13,859 words
  7. s07Chapter V. On The Development Of The Intellectual And Moral Faculties Duringabout 8,402 words
  8. s08Chapter VI. On The Affinities And Genealogy Of Manabout 9,202 words
  9. s09Chapter VII. On The Races Of Manabout 19,348 words
  10. s10Chapter VIII. Principles Of Sexual Selection (part 1 of 2)about 12,596 words
  11. s11Chapter VIII. Principles Of Sexual Selection (part 2 of 2)about 12,920 words
  12. s12Chapter IX. Secondary Sexual Characters In The Lower Classes Of The Animal Kingdomabout 5,893 words
  13. s13Chapter X. Secondary Sexual Characters Of Insectsabout 12,940 words
  14. s14Chapter XIabout 10,713 words
  15. s15Chapter XII. Secondary Sexual Characters Of Fishes, Amphibians, And Reptilesabout 10,465 words
  16. s16Chapter XIII. Secondary Sexual Characters Of Birdsabout 16,452 words
  17. s17CHAPTER XIV. BIRDS—continuedabout 16,987 words
  18. s18CHAPTER XV. BIRDS—continuedabout 8,998 words
  19. s19CHAPTER XVI. BIRDS—concludedabout 17,419 words
  20. s20Chapter XVII. Secondary Sexual Characters Of Mammalsabout 10,663 words
  21. s21Chapter XVIII. Secondary Sexual Characters Of Mammals—Continuedabout 11,064 words
  22. s22Chapter XIX. Secondary Sexual Characters Of Manabout 13,318 words
  23. s23Chapter XX. Secondary Sexual Characters Of Man—Continuedabout 9,670 words
  24. s24Chapter XXI. General A Summary And Conclusion (part 1 of 3)about 13,633 words
  25. s25Chapter XXI. General A Summary And Conclusion (part 2 of 3)about 13,661 words
  26. s26Chapter XXI. General A Summary And Conclusion (part 3 of 3)about 13,716 words

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