Don't Be Such an Animal!: Placing Humankind Among the Mammals in 'Descent of Man' Anonymous College

In The Descent of Man, Darwin starts off comparing the bodily structures of humans and animals and discovering that there are many similarities in structures like bones, muscles, and even the brain. To prove this point, he breaks down the human body step by step to show homologous structures in animals. Darwin also mentions that humans and animals have similar behavioral qualities. We react to diseases, medicines, and caffeine similarly. Darwin also compares anatomical structures and social norms to show that humans and other mammals are similar but there are differences within species, which include men/women and white/colored races. He uses these distinction to show that within species there are differences but these variations of sex and skin color are also found in other mammals. By comparing behavior and intellect between humans and mammals, Darwin is trying to diminish the idea that humans are better than mammals and suggests that on a broad scope all mammals similar. Although we have significant differences within the humans species, these differences occur in other mammals as well. Overall, Darwin ‘pushes’ humans off a pedestal and wants humans to realize that they are truly animals at their core.

Darwin utilizes...