Darwin’s explanation of man’s descent is an interesting
one. One the one hand he theorizes that man, like all other beings, is the
“co-descendant with other mammals of a common progenitor” (Darwin 233). This
puts man as not the top of a line of new species, but as a species that
developed along side and shares similar characteristics to beings that
scientists of the time called base and savage. On the other hand, Darwin notes
the moral and intelligence superiority of mankind that separates him from all
other beings. This moral superiority includes the ability to intelligently
interact with other humans, follow a religion, the possession of sympathy, and
being able to reflect on oneself. In this case, Darwin discusses two very
different aspects of mankind—their connection to other, “lower” species, and
man’s morality. So, does the “Descent of Man” connote man’s animalistic past
and connections to other species or to the actual downfall of man as a
high-powered species among less-intelligent beings?
Similarly,
Mathilde Blind praises man, but spends the majority of her poem expressing the
glory of animals and physical nature. Can the “Ascent of Man” connote man’s
superiority despite her focus on the glory of the rest of nature?
What
is this intellectual anxiety over man’s place in science and the world that
Darwin, Blind, and other writers struggle with? Is the high quality of
scientific writings regarding species’ origins and faculties really able to
determine the order of beings?
One of the things that seems to happen is that Darwin is reasonably specific in his language with in a section of his writings, but not necessarily throughout his entire work. Darwin is quite enamored with man's intellectual ability as he should be since it is a singular trait in species on earth. So, passages that refer to the "rank" of man for example can be read as referring to this. That we arrived at this sate through biological process that, in general, any species can undergo is humbling and worth keeping in mind. That there are species that have abilities we lack as a species is also a very good point. These do not, however, negate the argument that the intellect of many places him in a unique category in nature.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way about Darwin's text and I couldn't exactly put my finger on what was motivating Darwin's opinion. I am drawn in particular to the mention of man following a religion because recent studies show documented burial practices in animals such as elephants, and some are making the argument that this is a documentation of spirituality or religious practice in animals. Are we really that much more evolved than other species?
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