File:The evolution of man- a popular exposition of the principal points of human ontogeny and phylogene (1896) (14595103048).jpg

Identifier: evolutionofmanpo02hae (find matches)
Title: The evolution of man: a popular exposition of the principal points of human ontogeny and phylogene
Year: 1896 (1890s)
Authors: Haeckel, Ernst, 1834-1919
Subjects: Evolution Embryology, Human Anatomy, Comparative Human beings
Publisher: New York, Fowle
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Institution Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
mostvaried and remarkable processes, is,even, one of the most importantmechanical causes of the highestdifferentiation in life ;—if we considerthis, we cannot over-estimate this re-tracing of love to its primitivesource, to the power of attraction be-tween two differing cells. Every-where throughout animated nature Fig, 315.—Longitudinal section through aHaliphysema (Gastrceada). The egg-cells (e) areenlarged epithelial cells of the entoderm (g),and lie freely in the primitive intestinal cavity(d): m, mouth-opening ; h, exoderm. the greatest results proceed from this most insignificantcause. It is only necessary to think of the part played innature by the flowers, the reproductive organ of floweringplants; or of the multitude of wonderful phenomenacaused by sexual selection in animal life; or, finally, of theimportant influence exerted by love on human life : the coa-lescence of two cells is everywhere the single, originalimpelling motive ; everywhere this apparently trivial pro-
Text Appearing After Image:
394 THE EVOLUTION OF MAN. cess exerts the greatest influence on the development of themost varied circumstances. We may, indeed, assert, thatno other organic process can be, even remotely, compared tothis in extent and intensity of differentiating effect. Foris not the Semitic myth of Eve, who seduced Adam toknowledge, and is not the old Greek legend of Paris andHelen, and are not very many other famous fictions, merelythe poetical expression of the immeasurable influence, whichlove, in connection with sexual selection, ^^ has exerted,ever since the differentiation of the two sexes, on the pro-gress of the worlds history ? All other passions that agitatethe human breast are in their combined effects far lesspowerful than love, which inflames the senses and fools theunderstanding. On the one hand, we gratefully glorify loveas the source of the most splendid creations of art; of thenoblest productions of poetry, of plastic art and of music;we reverence in it the most powerful factor in

Note About Images