The Evolution of Human Behavior

WE now turn to an examination of the concrete evidence relating to man's place in nature in the light of the broad biological principles set forth in the previous chapter. In doing this we shall be obliged to content ourselves with a survey of the more outstanding facts and interpretations connected with the problem. The reasons which make such a simplification of the evidence necessary should be fairly obvious. In the first place, the sources of evolutionary material that might properly be drawn upon are exceedingly extensive. As one of the more complex and recent types, the genus Homo is connected with past and present living forms by an infinitude of diverse genetic bonds. Any worthy attempt to trace out these intricate relationships in detail would most certainly require a number of volumes. It is barely possible, within the limits of a single chapter, to offer a brief treatment of the pivotal fossil types, and their living allies, which lead more or less directly to the human stem. On this account, such interesting and corroborative evidence as might be drawn from the evolution of collateral stems must be largely eliminated from the present discussion. A number of books dealing with the materials of evolution in their more general connections will be found listed in the bibliography.

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