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The Origin of Humankind: Unearthing Our Family Tree
by Richard Leakey"The name Leakey is synonymous with the study of human origins," wrote The New York Times. The renowned family of paleontologists--Louis Leakey, Mary Leakey, and their son Richard Leakey--has vastly expanded our understanding of human evolution. <P><P>The Origin of Humankind is Richard Leakey's personal view of the development of Homo Sapiens. At the heart of his new picture of evolution is the introduction of a heretical notion: once the first apes walked upright, the evolution of modern humans became possible and perhaps inevitable. From this one evolutionary step comes all the other evolutionary refinements and distinctions that set the human race apart from the apes. In fascinating sections on how and why modern humans developed a social organization, culture, and personal behavior, Leakey has much of interest to say about the development of art, language, and human consciousness.
The Origin of Language and Consciousness: How Social Orders and Communicative Concerns Gave Rise to Speech and Cognitive Abilities (World-Systems Evolution and Global Futures)
by Nikolai S. RozovThis book presents an evolutionary theory of the origin and step-by-step development of linguistic structures and cognitive abilities from the early stages of anthropogenesis to the Upper Paleolithic. Emphasizing the social nature of the human mind and using an extended version of C.Hempel's explanatory logic, the author proves that language and consciousness emerged and evolved through the daily efforts of our ancestors to overcome mutual misunderstandings in increasingly complex social orders with increasing tasks on memory, thinking, and normative regulation of behavior, with the addition of new and new communicative concerns.The book addresses questions such as the following:What unique social conditions led to the emergence of the first protosyllables and protowords?What steps enabled the crossing of the "linguistic Rubicon" (between animal communication and human speech)?Why were syllables and phonemes needed? How did our ancestors overcome the difficulties of misunderstanding?How, when, and why did ancient people learn to speak in turns? Why did they begin to talk about past and distant events? What is consciousness and how did it evolve along with language?How many original languages were there and why are there roughly 200 philas (language macrofamilies)?How and why did the number of languages and the degree of their complexity change in pre-written history?Did the Romance languages really evolve from Latin?Accordingly, the book will appeal to scholars in various disciplines who are interested in a better understanding of the cognitive aspects of anthropogenesis and the ancient origins of language and consciousness.
The Origin of Life
by Raymond AronTheoretical biology is still in its early stages as an academic discipline. There is even little agreement as to what topics it should deal with or in what manner it should precede; and it is only recently that philosophers felt called upon to notice the relevance of biological topics as evolution or perception to their traditional problems. This work is a publication of the International Union of Biological Sciences, the central organization of all the branches of biology. The main focus here is to explore the possibility of formulating some frame of concepts and methods around which theoretical biology can grow.The intention of this collective effort was that discussions would be concerned, not with the theory of particular biological processes, such as membrane permeability, genetics, and neural activity, but rather with an attempt to discover and formulate general concepts and logical relations characteristic of living as contrasted with inorganic systems. Further, this project is a consideration of implications these might have for general philosophy. Many well-known scientists contributed to this volume, such as J. Maynard Smith, Ernst Mayr, Brian Goodwin, and Renu Thom.The Origin of Life: Toward a Theoretical Biology explores the character of the problems facing any theory of general biology. It contains a series of chapters and exchanges discussing such topics as the origin of life, cellular differentiation, morphogensis, evolution, and indeterminacy in biological and physical systems, the organization of the brain, the statistical mechanics of non-linear oscillators, and many other topics. This is a pioneering volume by recognized leaders in an emerging field the first of four such works.
The Origin of Life Patterns
by Alan RaynerUnderstanding the relationship between human cultural psychology and the evolutionary ecology of living systems is currently limited by abstract perceptions of space and boundaries as sources of definitive discontinuity. This Brief explores the new understandings possible when space and boundaries are perceived instead as sources of receptive continuity and dynamic distinction between local identities and phenomena. It aims to identify the recurrent patterns in which life is expressed over diverse scales in natural ecosystems and to explore how a new awareness of their evolutionary origin in the natural inclusion of space in flux can be related to human cultural psychology. It explains why these patterns cannot adequately be represented or understood in terms of conventional logic and language that definitively isolates the material content from the spatial context of natural systems. Correspondingly, the Brief discusses how the perception of natural space as an infinite, intangible, receptive presence, and of natural informational boundaries as continuous energetic flux, revolutionizes our understanding of evolutionary processes. The mutual natural inclusion of receptive space and informative flux in all distinguishable local phenomena enables evolutionary diversification to be understood as a fluid dynamic exploration of renewing possibility, not an eliminative 'survival of the fittest'. Self-identity is recognized to be a dynamic inclusion of natural neighborhood, not a definitive exception from neighborhood. The Origins of Life Patterns will be of interest to psychologists, philosophers, anthropologists, evolutionary biologists, ecologists, mathematicians, and physicists.
The Origin of Snakes: Morphology and the Fossil Record
by Michael Wayne CaldwellThis book presents perspectives on the past and present state of the understanding of snake origins. It reviews and critiques data and ideas from paleontology and neontology (herpetology), as well as ideas from morphological and molecular phylogenetics. The author reviews the anatomy and morphology of extant snakes. Methods are also critiqued, including those empirical and theoretical methods employed to hypothesize ancestral ecologies for snakes. The modern debate on squamate phylogeny and snake ingroup phylogeny using molecules and morphology is examined critically to provide insights on origins and evolution. Key Features Important major evolutionary transformation in vertebrate evolution Continuing historical debate in vertebrate paleontology Of wide interest to a core audience of paleontologists, herpetologists, and morphologists Author acknowledged as prominent contributor to debate over snake origins Based on remarkable well preserved fossil specimens
The Origin of Species
by Charles DarwinTo celebrate the 150th anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin's seminal 1859 work introducing the theory of evolution by natural selection, science writer and journalist Quammen presents the first edition text richly augmented by more than 350 images including historical photos and portraits, Darwin's own drawings, images of the places he went, the people he saw, the creatures he encountered, and the ship he traveled on. An informative introduction and extensive reproductions from The Voyage of the Beagle (Darwin's research travel narrative) as well as brief excerpts from his biography, diaries, and correspondence provide added perspective on who the man really was, how he came to develop his revolutionary theory, and how one of the most important and controversial books in history came to be. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
The Origin of Species (SparkNotes Literature Guide Series)
by SparkNotesThe Origin of Species (SparkNotes Literature Guide) by Charles Darwin Making the reading experience fun! Created by Harvard students for students everywhere, SparkNotes is a new breed of study guide: smarter, better, faster. Geared to what today's students need to know, SparkNotes provides: *Chapter-by-chapter analysis *Explanations of key themes, motifs, and symbols *A review quiz and essay topicsLively and accessible, these guides are perfect for late-night studying and writing papers
The Origin of Species and The Voyage of the 'Beagle': Introduction by Richard Dawkins
by Charles Darwin Richard Dawkins[Illustrated jacket] Introduced by Richard Dawkins. Easily the most influential book published in the nineteenth century, Darwin's The Origin of Species is also that most unusual phenomenon, an altogether readable discussion of a scientific subject. On its appearance in 1859 it was immediately recognized by enthusiasts and detractors alike as a work of the greatest importance: its revolutionary theory of evolution by means of natural selection provoked a furious reaction that continues to this day. The Origin of Species is here published together with Darwin's earlier Voyage of the 'Beagle.' This 1839 account of the journeys to South America and the Pacific islands that first put Darwin on the track of his remarkable theories derives an added charm from his vivid description of his travels in exotic places and his eye for the piquant detail.
The Origin of Species and the Voyage of the Beagle: On The Origin Of Species, The Autobiography Of Charles Darwin, And The Voyage Of The Beagle
by Charles DarwinDiscover Charles Darwin's most important ideas... When the eminent naturalist Charles Darwin returned from South America on board the H.M.S Beagle in 1836, he brought notes and evidence that would form the basis of his landmark theory: that species evolve by a process of natural selection. This theory, published as The Origin of Species in 1859, is the basis of modern biology and the concept of biodiversity. It also sparked a fierce scientific, religious and philosophical debate that still rages today. WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY DARWIN'S GREAT-GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER, RUTH PADEL
The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection: Or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life
by Charles DarwinWith his revolutionary work The Origin of Species Charles Darwin overthrew contemporary beliefs about Divine Providence and the beginnings of life on earth. Written for the general public of the 1850s, it is a rigorously documented but highly readable account of the scientific theory that now lies at the root of our present attitude to the universe. Challenging notions such as the fixity of species with the idea of natural selection, and setting forth the results of pioneering work on the ecology of animals and plants, it made a lasting contribution to philosophical and scientific thought.
The Origin of Species: A Variorum Text
by Charles Darwin Morse PeckhamThe theories propounded by Charles Darwin in The Origin of Species have had a profound and revolutionary effect, not only on biology but also on philosophy, history, and theology. His concept of natural selection has created eruptive disputes among scientists and religious leaders of his time and ours. The phenomenal importance of his brilliant work is universally recognized, but the present volume marks the first scholarly attempt to compile a complete variorum edition of The Origin of Species, covering all of the extensive variants in the six texts published between 1859 and 1872. Darwin's changes were extensive. His book grew by a third as he rewrote many passages four or five times, and in this edition Morse Peckham has recorded every one of those changes. A book of such distinctive dimensions, on a subject of such profound importance, will be of intense interest to historians of biology, evolution, science, literature, and cultural development. It will be an invaluable aid to the clarification and full comprehension of this complex and renowned scientific classic.
The Origin of Species: V11 Harvard Classics (Enriched Classics)
by Charles DarwinThis classic work of scientific literature, presenting the theory of evolution by means of natural selection, is still both relevant and controversial in the twenty-first century. THIS ENRICHED CLASSIC EDITION INCLUDES: A concise introduction that gives the reader important background information A chronology of the author's life and work A timeline of significant events that provides the book's historical context An outline of key themes to guide the reader's own interpretations Detailed explanatory notes Critical analysis, including contemporary and modern perspectives on the work Discussion questions to promote lively classroom and book group interaction A list of recommended related
The Origin of a New Progenitor Stem Cell Group in Human Development: An Immunohistochemical-, Light- And Electronmicroscopical Analysis (Advances In Anatomy, Embryology And Cell Biology Ser. #230)
by Hubert Wartenberg Andreas Miething Kjeld MøllgårdThis book presents an overview of a new group of progenitor stem cells. Their origins were originally detected in light- and electron microscopical sections of plastic embedded human embryonal and fetal organs. The distribution of these cells can result in a large quantity of ectopic stem cells. The observation of these ectopic stem cells leads us to postulate the existence of a basic wave of stem cell progenitors. This process proceeds earlier and independently from germ cell migration. This first wave of progenitor stem cell migration initially reaches the peri-aortal AMG-region (Aortal-Mesonephric-Gonadal region). From here, some of these progenitor cells enter the aorta, are distributed through the vascular system and become the embryonal stem cells (reserve cells) in many peripheral tissues. A second part delivers progenitor cells for the adrenal 'anlage'. Within the peripheral Zona definitiva of the adrenal cortex the progenitor cells multiplicate and subsequently leave the adrenal cortex through a gate of the capsule. The progenitor cells arrive at the pre-aortal sympathic plexus ('second brain'). Within the plexus ganglia they form new organ-like clusters, the paraganglia. In a second process the progenitor cells (Chromaffine cells) enter sympathetic nerve bundles. Here an 'axonal migration' starts, which guides the progenitor cells to several peripheral organs. During this migration process the stem cells develop into their final state. In the adrenal cortex the ingrowing nerves guide the stem cells to the adrenal medulla. In the pancreas the ingrowing nerve fibers guide the stem cells to the islets. These newly detected stem cells represent a specific developmental step which is found only in humans.
The Origin of the Galaxy and Local Group
by Joss Bland-Hawthorn Kenneth Freeman Francesca Matteucciben MooreThis volume contains the updated and expanded lecture notes of the 37th Saas-Fee Advanced Course organised by the Swiss Society for Astrophysics and Astronomy. It offers the most comprehensive and up to date review of one of the hottest research topics in astrophysics - how our Milky Way galaxy formed. Joss Bland-Hawthorn & Ken Freeman lectured on Near Field Cosmology - The Origin of the Galaxy and the Local Group. Francesca Matteucci's chapter is on Chemical evolution of the Milky Way and its Satellites. As designed by the SSAA, books in this series - and this one too - are targeted at graduate and PhD students and young researchers in astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology. Lecturers and researchers entering the field will also benefit from the book.
The Origin of the Species
by Charles DarwinTo celebrate the 150th anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin's seminal 1859 work introducing the theory of evolution by natural selection, science writer and journalist Quammen presents the first edition text richly augmented by more than 350 images including historical photos and portraits, Darwin's own drawings, images of the places he went, the people he saw, the creatures he encountered, and the ship he traveled on. An informative introduction and extensive reproductions from The Voyage of the Beagle (Darwin's research travel narrative) as well as brief excerpts from his biography, diaries, and correspondence provide added perspective on who the man really was, how he came to develop his revolutionary theory, and how one of the most important and controversial books in history came to be. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc. , Portland, OR (booknews. com)
The Origin of the Universe
by Jan Aleksander PiaseckiA philosophical approach to the enigma of nature and the universe approached through observation, meditation, and logical analysis of material phenomena. Written in accessible language for the general reader, The Origin of the Universe expounds on a theory that Jan Aleksander Piasecki developed from a synthesis of data he accumulated over the years. He discusses world forces and how they combine and operate to create the universe and matter, and all living things in it. A special section discusses the soul, its design and destiny. Attributing everything in the universe to the impact and expansion of the heat entity and the resistance and pressure of the cold entity, Piasecki moves through time and space to explain the creation of the sun, the solar system, atmosphere, water, and living forms. He draws a connection from outside forces to that which animates every &“self-moving form&” from within: the soul, imbued with the knowledge of its own being. From molecules to the moon, The Origin of the Universe takes readers on a journey through the mysteries of life, those with a finite existence and those that may endure forever . . .
The Origin: A Biographical Novel of Charles Darwin
by Irving StoneNot only a story about the Darwin's cruise, which started him thinking about natural selection, but also an account of his wide-ranging career, his controversies, and his family.
The Origins Of Virtue: Human Instincts And The Evolution Of Cooperation
by Matt RidleyIf, as Darwin suggests, evolution relentlessly encourages the survival of the fittest, why are humans compelled to live in cooperative, complex societies? In this fascinating examination of the roots of human trust and virtue, a zoologist and former American editor of the Economist reveals the results of recent studies that suggest that self-interest and mutual aid are not at all incompatible. In fact, he points out, our cooperative instincts may have evolved as part of mankind?s natural selfish behavior--by exchanging favors we can benefit ourselves as well as others. Brilliantly orchestrating the newest findings of geneticists, psychologists, and anthropologists, The Origins of Virtue re-examines the everyday assumptions upon which we base our actions towards others, whether in our roles as parents, siblings, or trade partners. With the wit and brilliance of The Red Queen, his acclaimed study of human and animal sexuality, Matt Ridley shows us how breakthroughs in computer programming, microbiology, and economics have given us a new perspective on how and why we relate to each other.
The Origins and Nature of Sociality
by Robert W. SussmanScientific developments have increasingly been transforming our understanding of the place of human beings in nature. The contributors to this book focus on the current status of research on sociality and the evolution of cooperative and altruistic behaviour in non-human and human primates. They examine questions related to the evolution, cultural viability, and hormonal underpinnings of human sociality in specific detail, and describe patterns of sociality that shed light on human social behaviour.
The Origins of Agnosticism: Victorian Unbelief and the Limits of Knowledge
by Bernard LightmanOriginally published in 1987. The Origins of Agnosticism provides a reinterpretation of agnosticism and its relationship to science. Professor Lightman examines the epistemological basis of agnostics' learned ignorance, studying their core claim that "God is unknowable." To address this question, he reconstructs the theory of knowledge posited by Thomas Henry Huxley and his network of agnostics. In doing so, Lightman argues that agnosticism was constructed on an epistemological foundation laid by Christian thought. In addition to undermining the continuity in the intellectual history of religious thought, Lightman exposes the religious origins of agnosticism.
The Origins of Ancient Greek Science: Blood—A Philosophical Study (Routledge Monographs in Classical Studies #22)
by Michael BoylanThis book examines the origins of ancient Greek science using the vehicles of blood, blood vessels, and the heart. Careful attention to biomedical writers in the ancient world, as well as to the philosophical and literary work of writers prior to the Hippocratic authors, produce an interesting story of how science progressed and the critical context in which important methodological questions were addressed. The end result is an account that arises from debates that are engaged in and "solved" by different writers. These stopping points form the foundation for Harvey and for modern philosophy of biology. Author Michael Boylan sets out the history of science as well as a critical evaluation based upon principles in the contemporary canon of the philosophy of science—particularly those dealing with the philosophy of biology.
The Origins of Creativity
by Edward O. WilsonAn eloquent exploration of creativity, The Origins of Creativity grapples with the question of how this uniquely human expression—so central to our identity as individuals and, collectively, as a species—came about and how it has manifested itself throughout the history of our species. In this profound and lyrical book, one of our most celebrated biologists offers a sweeping examination of the relationship between the humanities and the sciences: what they offer to each other, how they can be united, and where they still fall short. Both endeavours, Edward O. Wilson reveals, have their roots in human creativity—the defining trait of our species. Reflecting on the deepest origins of language, storytelling, and art, Wilson demonstrates how creativity began not ten thousand years ago, as we have long assumed, but over one hundred thousand years ago in the Paleolithic age. Chronicling this evolution of creativity from primate ancestors to humans, The Origins of Creativity shows how the humanities, spurred on by the invention of language, have played a largely unexamined role in defining our species. And in doing so, Wilson explores what we can learn about human nature from a surprising range of creative endeavors—the instinct to create gardens, the use of metaphors and irony in speech, and the power of music and song. Our achievements in science and the humanities, Wilson notes, make us uniquely advanced as a species, but also give us the potential to be supremely dangerous, most worryingly in our abuse of the planet. The humanities in particular suffer from a kind of anthropomorphism, encumbered by a belief that we are the only species among millions that seem to matter, yet Wilson optimistically reveals how researchers will have to address this parlous situation by pushing further into the realm of science, especially fields such as evolutionary biology, neuroscience, and anthropology. With eloquence and humanity, Wilson calls for a transformational "Third Enlightenment," in which the blending of these endeavors will give us a deeper understanding of the human condition and our crucial relationship with the natural world.
The Origins of Everything in 100 Pages (More or Less)
by David BercoviciCovering 13.8 billion years in some 100 pages, a concise, wryly intelligent history of everything, from the Big Bang to the advent of human civilization.With wonder, wit, and flair—and in record time and space—geophysicist David Bercovici explains how everything came to be everywhere, from the creation of stars and galaxies to the formation of Earth&’s atmosphere and oceans, to the origin of life and human civilization. Bercovici marries humor and legitimate scientific intrigue, rocketing readers across nearly fourteen billion years and making connections between the essential theories that give us our current understanding of topics as varied as particle physics, plate tectonics, and photosynthesis. Bercovici&’s unique literary endeavor is a treasure trove of real, compelling science and fascinating history, providing both science lovers and complete neophytes with an unforgettable introduction to the fields of cosmology, geology, genetics, climate science, human evolution, and more.&“For determined minds hoping for cogent, clever explanations for what we know of the history of the universe, Bercovici nails it.&” —Shelf Awareness &“Explaining life, the universe and everything in 100 pages may be a tall order, but physicist and volcano enthusiast Bercovici rises to the challenge. . . . Origins delivers on its promise—and (bonus!) it&’s even fun to read.&” —Discover&“Clear, concise, comprehensive, and written with verve and a sense of humor, The Origins of Everything is a delightful journey through time from the big bang to the present day.&” —Doug Macdougall, author of Frozen Earth
The Origins of Knowledge and Imagination
by Jacob BronowskiAdapted from a series of lectures by Bronowski that deals with one of the pivotal paradoxes that has plagued scientific thought.