He never stated that man was a descendant of a still living ape, but only that man and apes must have a common ancestor. After The Origin of Species this is Darwin's second most important book.
Darwin 50 |
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| Fossils of human ancestors (like those above) had hardly been found in those days. As a consequence the book does not discuss teeth, jaws or bones, but it compares in the first place the structure of the body and the manner of living of apes and man. There are many similarities: in body structure, in embryo, in behaviour, in emotions, in intelligence. In all these characteristics the ape is of all mammals nearest to man. | Darwin showed in this book that man is a mammal among other mammal species.
He never stated that man was a descendant of a still living ape, but only that man and apes must have a common ancestor. After The Origin of Species this is Darwin's second most important book. |
Darwin 50 |