Replies

Consider the alternate title of The Origin of the Species: The Origin of the Species by Means of Natural Selection
or The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life

Consider reading beyond the title. You will learn that Darwin considered the term "race" to be a fuzzy construct, as difficult to apply as it was to determine when a village became a town; and he used "race" interchangeably with the term "species" and sometimes "sub-species."

I had that a bit backwards. It was the term "species" that Darwin considered fuzzy, or imprecise, because one species blends imperceptibly into another, so he would sometimes use sub-species and race instead. Particularly with humanity. Contrary to the prevailing attitudes of Englishmen of his generation, he regarded all mankind as one species. This attitude was, I believe, the opposite of the "racist" label you tried to pin on him. But then, your error is understandable, because you don't read beyond the title.

The Origin of the Species by Means of Natural Selection
or
The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life

"Consider reading beyond the title." Well at least I reported the entire title! That is seldom done. I wonder what Darwin meant to convey with his alternative title. Actually, I've read most of the book - though not recently. To me, the work has pronounced strengths and weaknesses. I recall little discussion on the evolution of man.

I have not read Darwin's The Descent of Man. I've seen electronic bulletin board postings of vivid quotes - but have not confirmed their validity.

Darwin clearly considers speciation to be a very gradual process. Is it so gradual that all the evidence is historical? Or could one look around and find some evidence in the present - different varieties or races?

My complaint is with modern dogma. We must believe in evolution. We must not be racists. We must not consider any logical connection between evolution and race. This strikes me as two musts too many. One should reject racism for humanitarian reasons; it's just not nice to people. But it seems to me that a complete discussion of human evolution would include a discussion of race.

"This conference was unique because it compromised all subfields of evolution from microbes to humans," Post 9

I think the presentations on human evolution would be interesting. Let's hope that they have not been "compromised" too much. :)