Man in the past, present, and future: a popular account of the results of recent scientific research regarding the origin, position and prospects of mankind

Front matter

Class _&_Nj_l_ Book„ * 3 7

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT.

MAN

Preface

THE following book has resulted from a series of public discourses by the author upon the great scientific discoveries of recent times with regard to the Antiquity and Origin of the Human race, and the Position of Ma?i in Nature.

The great and almost unexampled interest in the subject, and its importance in the development and further evolution of our general conception of the. Universe and of life, from the point of view of philosophical realism, (an importance which is still far from being sufficiently acknowledged), will justify the author in abstaining from any prefatory explanation of his motives in deciding to communicate in the present compilation, the essential parts of these discourses to , a more distant or larger public, in a form suited for general comprehension.

In order to avoid confusion by the particularly copious abundance of materials at hand, the author has arranged the actual, or more exact proof of what is given in the Text, (consisting of quotations, scientific details, and further particulars or remarks,) in a separate Appendix , brought into connection with the Text by continuous numbers, and also in a series of foot notes. He hopes that this method will augment the scientific value of the book without injuring its usefulness with the general public, to whose wants he has paid particular attention in the text itself.

VI PREFACE.

The extraordinary favor which the public has hitherto manifested towards all the literary productions of the author without exception, and which has been his principal incitement to proceed in the same course will, he hopes, not be wanting to this new book, the principal tendency of which is towards culture and intellectual progress. The author believes that he is the more justified in this expectation, since the book contains in its second, section a popular exposition of one of the most prominent questions of the day — a question which, in the last few years, has excited the minds of men in a most remarkable manner. This question, which has been so often misunderstood, and answered in the most varied forms, relates to the Ape-genealogy of man as it has been called. If the author should succeed by means of credible and scientific evidence in diffusing correct views, free from prejudice and ignorance, and resting upon the truths of nature in regard to this new doctrine which has called forth so much opposition, this result alone will appear to him of sufficient importance to compensate for the trouble which he has bestowed upon the subject.

No doubt in this, as in former cases, there will be no lack of those opponents and calumniators who seek to displace light by darkness, truth by falsehood, and facts by phrases. The author, who has neither time, leisure nor inclination for futile polemics, thinks that he cannot meet such opponents better than by closing his preface with the following passages from an English writer, who has so brilliantly and resolutely defended the author's standpoint against his own assailants and censurers, that it is unnecessary to add a single word to what he has said.

" There is nothing more frequent," says David Page, {Man, &c. , Edingburgh, 1867), "than denunciations from the pulpit and platform against the tendencies of modern science, by men who are not only ignorant of the rudiments of science,

PREFACE. VII

but who have bound themselves by creeds and formulas before their minds were matured enough or their knowledge sufficient to discriminate between the essentials and non-essentials of these restrictions. And here it may be remarked, once for all, that no man who has subscribed to creeds and formulas, either in theology or philosophy, can be an unbiased investigator of the truth, or an unprejudiced judge of the opinions of others. His sworn preconceptions warp his discernment, and adherence to his sect or party engenders intolerance to the honest convictions of other enquirers.

" Beliefs we may and must have, but a belief to be changed with new and advancing knowledge impedes no progress, while a creed subscribed to as ultimate truth and sworn to be defended, not only puts a bar to further research, but as a consequence, throws the odium of distrust on all that may seem to oppose it. Even when such odium cannot deter, it annoys and irritates ; hence the frequent unwillingness of men of science to come prominently forward with the avowal of their beliefs.

" It is time this delicacy were thrown aside, and such theologians plainly told that the skepticism and infidelity — if skepticism and infidelity there be — lies all on their own side. There is no skepticism so offensive as that which doubts the facts of honest and careful observation, — no infidelity so gross as that which disbelieves the deductions of competent and unbiased judgments."

These golden words deserve to be engraved on metal and displayed in all Churches, Lecture-halls and Editorial rooms.

Postscript to the English Edition.

ON the appearance of this English edition of his book on the Position of Man in Nature, the author thinks it necessary to express to the English Public his regret, that he was unable, in the preparation of its second section, to make use of the admirable arguments upon this subject, which have recently been published in England by the distinguished naturalist Darwin, in his book upon the Descent of Man. This was impossible, as the printing of the greater part of the translation was already completed when the work just mentioned made its appearance. The author's regret at this circumstance was however abundantly compensated by the satisfaction which he could not but feel when, on reading Darwin's work, he remarked the great and remarkable agreement between his views and those of the celebrated English naturalist, although he had been unable to arrive at any definite opinion upon the subject in question from Darwin's previous writings. Quite independently of any personal feeling, this circumstance may serve as a proof how completely a correct interpretation of facts, and consistent and unprejudiced thought in scientific matters, but especially in Natural History, must lead to the same clear and simple results, no matter in what brain the necessary process of thought is carried on, or whether it is in England or in Germany, or in any other part of the civilized world.

Dr. L. Buchner.

Darmstadt, Febrziary, 18J2.