The natural history of man
By: by Carl P. Swanson.
Series: Prentice-Hall biological science series
Publisher: Prentice-Hall
Published: 1973
Place of publication: Englewood Cliffs, N.J
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 402
Subjects: Human biology; Human evolution; Adaptation, Biological; Anthropology; Evolution
Notes: Bibliography: p. 379-388.
Table of contents: title: Through a kaleidoscope. Mans intellectual temper -- The temper of our age -- Magic -- Myth -- Science -- Science and the arts -- Summary -- A new course is charted. The influence of Copernicus -- The influence of Vesalius -- The influence of William Harvey -- Gateway to the present -- Summary -- Of time and variation. The development of historical geology -- The maturing of biology -- Summary -- Of change and chance. Unity of structures -- Similarity of development -- Geologic record -- Geographical distribution -- Variation and natural selection -- Evolution and man -- Summary -- Evolution as a process. Simple adaptations -- Complex adaptations -- Speciation -- Rates of evolution -- Origins -- Summary -- Emerging humanity. Climbing the primate tree -- Our simian ancestors -- The coming of man -- Summary -- The uniqueness of man. Mans physical uniqueness -- Culture-promoting human attributes -- On the disadvantages of being human -- The races of man -- Summary -- The uniqueness of the individual. The cellular basis of uniqueness -- The chemical basis of uniqueness -- The mechanics of inheritance -- The realization of uniqueness -- The nature of mutations -- Individuality and culture -- Summary -- Evolution revisited. The cultural consequences of energy use -- Cultural and biological evolution : a comparison -- Evolution and progress -- Summary -- Through a glass darkly -- Population -- Food -- Resources and energy -- Wastes and pollution -- Continued adaptation -- Bread alone?  -- Tomorrow and tomorrow and …?  -- Summary.