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The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex is a book by Charles Darwin, first published in 1871, which applies evolutionary theory to human evolution, and details his theory of sexual selection, a form of biological adaptation distinct from, yet interconnected with, natural selection. The book discusses many related issues, including evolutionary psychology, evolutionary ethics, differences between human races, differences between sexes, the dominant role of women in mate choice, and the relevance of the evolutionary theory to society.

During the successive reprints of the first edition of this work, published in 1871, I was able to introduce several important corrections; and now that more time has elapsed, I have endeavoured to profit by the fiery ordeal through which the book has passed, and have taken advantage of all the criticisms which seem to me sound. I am also greatly indebted to a large number of correspondents for the communication of a surprising number of new facts and remarks. These have been so numerous, that I have been able to use only the more important ones; and of these, as well as of the more important corrections, I will append a list. Some new illustrations have been introduced, and four of the old drawings have been replaced by better ones, done from life by Mr. T.W. Wood. I must especially call attention to some observations which I owe to the kindness of Prof. Huxley (given as a supplement at the end of Part I.), on the nature of the differences between the brains of man and the higher apes. I have been particularly glad to give these observations, because during the last few years several memoirs on the subject have appeared on the Continent, and their importance has been, in some cases, greatly exaggerated by popular writers.I may take this opportunity of remarking that my critics frequently assume that I attribute all changes of corporeal structure and mental power exclusively to the natural selection of such variations as are often called spontaneous; whereas, even in the first edition of the Origin of Species, I distinctly stated that great weight must be attributed to the inherited effects of use and disuse, with respect both to the body and mind. I also attributed some amount of modification to the direct and prolonged action of changed conditions of life.

In this book, Darwin seeks to trace the origins of such human characteristics as the lifting of the eyebrows in moments of surprise and the mental confusion which typically accompanies blushing. Darwin links mental states to the neurological organization of movement; and he sought out the opinions of some leading British psychiatrists, notably James Crichton-Browne, in the preparation of the book which forms his main contribution to psychology. Amongst the innovations with this book are Darwins circulation of a questionnaire in his preparatory research; simple experiments on emotional recognition among his friends and family; and (borrowing from Duchenne de Boulogne) the use of photographs in its presentation of scientific information. The Expression of the Emotions is an important landmark in the history of book illustration.

The share which worms have taken in the formation of the layer of vegetable mould, which covers the whole surface of the land in every moderately humid country, is the subject of the present volume.This mould is generally of a blackish colour and a few inches in thickness.In different districts it differs but little in appearance, although it may rest on various subsoils.The uniform fineness of the particles of which it is composed is one of its chief characteristic features; and this may be well observed in any gravelly country, where a recently-ploughed field immediately adjoins one which has long remained undisturbed for pasture, and where the vegetable mould is exposed on the sides of a ditch or hole.The subject may appear an insignificant one, but we shall see that it possesses some interest; and the maxim "de minimis non curat lex," does not apply to science.Even Elie de Beaumont, who generally undervalues small agencies and their accumulated effects, remarks:"La couche tres-mince de la terre vegetale est un monument dune haute antiquite, et, par le fait de sa permanence, un objet digne doccuper le geologue, et capable de lui fournir des remarques interessantes."Although the superficial layer of vegetable mould as a whole no doubt is of the highest antiquity, yet in regard to its permanence, we shall hereafter see reason to believe that its component particles are in most cases removed at not a very slow rate, and are replaced by others due to the disintegration of the underlying materials. As I was led to keep in my study during many months worms in pots filled with earth, I became interested in them, and wished to learn how far they acted consciously, and how much mental power they displayed.I was the more desirous to learn something on this head, as few observations of this kind have been made, as far as I know, on animals so low in the scale of organization and so poorly provided with sense-organs, as are earth-worms... Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin (1809-1882), eminente naturalista, destacado fisiólogo vegetal y un excelente criador de plantas, nunca se consideró a sí mismo como un experto botánico, según lo expresa al comienzo de esta obra: el tema del presente volumen, es decir, las distintas formas que habitualmente presentan las flores de ciertos tipos de plantas [] deberia haber sido abordado por un botanico ducho, distincion que no puedo otorgarme. Botanico de gabinete, para sus investigaciones devoro infinitos libros y conto con el apoyo y la inestimable ayuda de botanicos e investigadores como j. D. Hooker (1817-1911), asa gray (1810-1888), william thiselton dyer (1843-1928), daniel oliver (1830-1916) y fritz muller (1821-1897), ademas de con la asistencia de sus hijos, tanto para la realizacion de sus experimentos como para su ilustracion. En esta obra se recogen los trabajos de experimentacion y las hipotesis que darwin planteo para dar una explicacion a la variabilidad de la estructura floral de las plantas y averiguar su razon de ser. En esta ocasion se analiza parte de un amplio fenomeno denominado en la actualidad hercogamia, es decir, la separacion espacial de anteras y estigmas dentro de una misma flor, lo que reduce o impide completamente la autofecundacion intrafloral; concretamente, se estudia la hercogamia reciproca o heterostilia, asi como el fenomeno de las flores cleistogamas o aquellas que se autofecundan a si mismas al madurar sus estambres y estigmas mientras se encuentran encerrados en la corola floral que presenta forma de capullo.

De los 17 libros publicados en vida por Charles Darwin, muy pocos han sido traducidos al español. Más de 100 años después de su aparición, el 60% aproximadamente de la obra de Darwin sigue inédita en nuestra lengua. Es muy llamativo que obras com La Fecundacion de las orquideas o Las formas de las flores no se hayan traducido hasta ahora. Esta Biblioteca Darwin, dirigida por Marti Dominguez, profesor de la Universidad de Valencia y director de la revista Metode, se propone paliar una desatencion escandalosa, fruto sin duda del tradicional recelo hispano por la ciencias, y publicar por primera vez en español la obra olvidada, pero no por ello menos importante, de uno de los mayores cientificos de todos los tiempos. "Pocos experimentos mios me resultaron tan satisfactorios como el de la explicaccion de las plantas heterostilas", escribe Charles Darwin en su Autobiografia. Y, sin embargo, quiza esta obra sobre las formas de las flores sea una de las mas desconocidas e ignoradas del cientifico ingles. Sorprende la ausencia de referencias a Darwin en los tratados de Botanica, por no hablar de su desaparicion casi sistematica en los cursos universitarios. De alguna manera, Darwin tambien es victima del estereotipo: en el imaginario colectivo es el gran creador de la seleccion natural, el impulsor del evolucionismo, y habitualmente se le relaciona con los filos zoologicos, desde los percebes hasta los pinzones de las Galapagos. No obstante, fue un paciente y exigente investigador de la fisiologia vegetal, y quiza uno de los cientificos que mas hicieron por incorporar los vegetales al estudio moderno biologico.

HarperCollins is proud to present its range of best loved essential classics How fleeting are the wishes and efforts of man how short his time and consequently how poor will his products be compared with those accumulated by nature during whole geological periods Still considered one of the most important and groundbreaking works of science ever written Darwin s eminently readable exploration of the evolutionary process challenged most of the strong beliefs of the Western world Forced to question the idea of the Creator mid nineteenth century readers were faced with Darwin s theories on the laws of natural selection and the randomness of evolution causing massive controversy at the time However Darwin s theories remain instrumental in providing the backbone to modern biology today

Darwin tenía veintidós años cuando se embarcó como naturalista en el "Beagle" para realizar un viaje de exploración alrededor del mundo que duró cinco años. Además de una aventura extraordinaria, el largo periplo fue para Darwin el campo de pruebas que le permitio elaborar una concepcion nueva sobre el origen y la evolucion de las distintas formas de vida de la Tierra.

Charles Darwin és, sens dubte, un dels científics més universals; tanmateix, poques persones coneixen aspectes fonamentals de la seva vida i la seva obra, com ara que l'home que va fer tremolar els fonaments de l'Església era, precisament, teòleg, o d'altres de més anecdòtics i curiosos. Aquest recull de textos del mateix Darwin posa fi a molts malentesos sobre la seva figura i en revela aspectes personals i opinions polítiques i religioses d'allò més sorprenents. Dos-cents anys després del seu naixement se'ns obre, així, una finestra excepcional al món victorià en què es gestà la seva teoria de l'evolució i a les polèmiques que va desencadenar. Aquesta edició dels textos autobiogràfics darwinians és la primera que es publica en català amb les màximes garanties de rigor, ja que recull tots els textos memorialístics del científic i, a més, inclou les revisions que va fer-hi. Clou el volum una selecció de cartes que ens mostren la veu natural de Darwin. Es tracta, en definitiva, d'un petit gran llibre que demostra la importància de Darwin com a autor literari i que vol conduir a una nova i més ajustada recepció de la seva obra a Catalunya.

The topic of evolutionary biology continues to be controversial as not everybody accepts the view that human beings evolved from lower biological forms over time. Even in his own time, Darwin was no stranger to controversy. When he published "On the Origin of Species" in 1859 it created waves in the scientific community, the religious community, and within society at large. This ground-breaking book was applauded by some and condemned by others. It was (and in some respects still is) controversial.Charles Darwin was a British naturalist (scientist) who published the book just over a year before the American Civil War broke out in the United States. The book set forth the foundations for modern evolutionary biology. Darwin asserted that plant and animal life evolved from previous forms through a process called natural selection.Darwin is known for having conducted his observation and research in the Galapagos Islands, off the coast of South America. These islands teemed with all kinds of exotic plant and animal life. In addition to the Galapagos Islands, Darwin traveled all over the world conducting observations aboard the HMS Beagle, during which time he formulated his evolutionary model.

"The Voyage of the Beagle" shows the English naturalist Charles Darwins brilliant mind already at work on the problems that led to his seminal theory of evolution. The works title is somewhat misleading, for the author actually has little to say about the voyage. The original full title"Journal of Researches into the Geology and Natural History of the Various Countries Visited by H.M.S. Beagle, Under the Command of Captain FitzRoy, R.N., from 1832 to 1836"is a better reflection of the scope of the work."The Voyage of the Beagle" is not only an important book in the history of modern thought but also a highly significant one in the life of Darwin. As a young man, Darwin had little sense of vocation or direction. When he was sixteen, he began a career of medicine at Edinburgh University. Discovering, however, that he was unfit for the profession, he entered Christ College, Cambridge, three years later in 1828 to prepare himself to be a clergyman. Failing to take honors or to distinguish himself in any way, he accepted the offer of Captain Fitz Roy of the Beagle to sign on as a naturalist on a voyage around the world that eventually took five years. During that time, Darwin not only discovered himself and his career but also began making those observations that he later developed into the theory of evolution expounded in" On the Origin of Species" (1859). This work, together with the works of Karl Marx and of Sigmund Freud, constituted a powerful influence on twentieth century scientific thought and values.

El origen de las especies (The origin of species, en inglés) o más exactamente El origen de las especies mediante la selección natural o la conservación de las razas favorecidas en la lucha por la vida es un libro escrito por Charles Darwin (1809 -1882), publicado el 24 de noviembre de 1859 (John Murrap, Londres); agoto los 1.250 ejemplares impresos en el primer dia. En el, expuso por primera vez sus ideas sobre la seleccion natural y la teoria de la evolucion.Esta obra es un trabajo fundamental dentro de la historia de la ciencia y la biologia. En el, Darwin argumenta largamente su teoria sobre como los organismos evolucionan gradualmente por medio de la seleccion natural, presentando evidencias de su teoria acumuladas en su viaje en el HMS Beagle en los años 1831-1836. Su teoria se oponia ampliamente a las teorias vigentes en su epoca, creacionismo y catastrofismo.El libro puede ser leido por no especialistas. Aunque las ideas presentadas constituyen la base de la biologia moderna continuan siendo controvertidas para ciertos grupos religiosos quienes se apoyan en una interpretacion literal de textos religiosos a favor de explicaciones creacionistas.

Desde su aparición en 1859, la influencia de El origen de las especies en el pensamiento científio ha sido cada vez más importante y podría decirse que, a partir sobre todo del siglo XX, fue ganando cada día un poco más de actualidad. Los grandes nombres de la creación científica posteriores a Darwin se confiesan deudores de ese texto inagotable. Muchos de los descubrimientos célebres de la biología moderna serían incomprensibles sin tener en cuenta uno de los aportes fundamentales de Darwin: el origen y la evolución de las especies a través de la selección natural.

De los 17 libros publicados en vida por Charles Darwin, pocos han sido traducidos al español. Más de 100 años después de su aparición, el 60% aproximadamente de la obra de Darwin sigue inédito en nuestra lengua. Es muy llamativo que obras como La fecundacion de las orquideas o Plantas trepadoras no se hayan traducido hasta ahora. Esta Biblioteca Darwin, dirigida por Marti Dominguez, profesor de la Universidad de Valencia y director de la revista Metode, se propone paliar una desatencion escandalosa, fruto sin duda del tradicional recelo hispano por las ciencias, y publicar por primera vez en español la obra olvidada, pero no por ello menos importante, de uno de los mayores cientificos de todos los tiempos.

In "The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex," Charles Darwin compellingly expands upon his theories of evolution, focusing specifically on human evolution and sexual selection. Written in 1871, the book is a cornerstone of evolutionary biology, blending scientific rigor with eloquent prose. Darwin meticulously examines the physiological and psychological traits of humans compared to other species, arguing that sexual selection plays a crucial role in the evolution of both physical and behavioral characteristics. His exploration encompasses a broad range of topics, from race and gender to aesthetics and morality, ultimately presenting a profound reflection on humanitys place within the natural world. Charles Darwin, a naturalist and geologist, is best known for his groundbreaking work on evolution through natural selection, highlighted in his earlier work, "On the Origin of Species." His extensive travels, particularly on the HMS Beagle, and his observations of diverse ecosystems profoundly influenced his thoughts on human origins and sexual selection. Through his meticulous research and dedication to empirical evidence, Darwin crafted a narrative that not only challenges societal norms of his era but also sets the foundation for modern biology and anthropology. This seminal work is essential for anyone interested in the fields of biology, anthropology, or the historical context of scientific thought. It offers profound insights into the complexities of human evolution and is a testament to DarwinAos lasting impact on our understanding of life. Readers will find themselves captivated by Darwins arguments and his masterful interrogation of what it means to be human.