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MAN AND EVOLUTION |
Certain European philosophers agree that the species grows and
develops, and that even change and alteration are also possible.
One of the proofs that they give for this theory is that through
the attentive study and verification of the science of geology it
has become clear that the existence of the vegetable preceded that
of the animal, and that of the animal preceded that of man. They
admit that both the vegetable and the animal species have changed,
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for in some of the strata of the earth they have discovered plants
which existed in the past and are now extinct; they have progressed,
grown in strength, their form and appearance have
changed, and so the species have altered. In the same way, in the
strata of the earth there are some species of animals which have
changed and are transformed. One of these animals is the serpent.
There are indications that the serpent once had feet; but through
the lapse of time those members have disappeared. In the same
way, in the vertebral column of man there is an indication which
amounts to a proof that, like other animals, he once had a tail.
At one time that member was useful, but when man developed it
was no longer of use, and therefore it gradually disappeared. As
the serpent took refuge under the ground, and became a creeping
animal, it was no longer in need of feet, so they disappeared; but
their traces survive. The principal argument is this: that the existence
of traces of members proves that they once existed; and
as now they are no longer of service, they have gradually disappeared.
Therefore while the perfect and necessary members
have remained, those which are unnecessary have gradually disappeared
by the modification of the species, but the traces of
them continue.
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The first answer to this argument is the fact that the animal
having preceded man is not a proof of the evolution, change, and
alteration of the species, nor that man was raised from the animal
world to the human world. For while the individual appearance
of these different beings is certain, it is possible that man came
into existence after the animal. So when we examine the vegetable
kingdom, we see that the fruits of the different trees do not arrive
at maturity at one time; on the contrary, some come first and
others afterwards. This priority does not prove that the later fruit
of one tree was produced from the earlier fruit of another tree.
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Secondly, these slight signs and traces of members have perhaps
a great reason of which the mind is not yet cognizant. How many
things exist of which we do not yet know the reason! So the
science of physiology, that is to say the knowledge of the composition
of the members, records that the reason and cause of the
difference in the colors of animals, and of the hair of men, of the
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redness of the lips, and of the variety of the colors of birds, is still
unknown; it is secret and hidden. But it is known that the pupil
of the eye is black, so as to attract the rays of the sun; for if it
were another color, that is, uniformly white, it would not attract
the rays of the sun. Therefore, as the reason of the things we have
mentioned is unknown, it is possible that the reason and the
wisdom of these traces of members, whether they be in the animal
or man, are equally unknown. Certainly there is a reason, even
though it is not known.
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Thirdly, let us suppose that there was a time when some animals,
or even man, possessed some members which have now disappeared;
this is not a sufficient proof of the change and evolution
of the species. For man, from the beginning of the embryonic
period till he reaches the degree of maturity, goes through different
forms and appearances. His aspect, his form, his appearance, and
color change; he passes from one form to another, and from one
appearance to another. Nevertheless, from the beginning of the
embryonic period he is of the species of man; that is to say, an
embryo of a man, and not of an animal; but this is not at first
apparent, but later it becomes visible and evident. For example,
let us suppose that man once resembled the animal, and that now
he has progressed and changed; supposing this to be true, it is still
not a proof of the change of species; no, as before mentioned, it
is merely like the change and alteration of the embryo of man
until it reaches the degree of reason and perfection. We will state
it more clearly: let us suppose that there was a time when man
walked on his hands and feet, or had a tail; this change and alteration
is like that of the fœtus in the womb of the mother; although
it changes in all ways, and grows and develops until it reaches the
perfect form, from the beginning it is a special species. We also
see in the vegetable kingdom that the original species of the genus
do not change and alter, but the form, color, and bulk will change
and alter, or even progress.
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To recapitulate: as man in the womb of the mother passes from
form to form, from shape to shape, changes and develops, and is
still the human species from the beginning of the embryonic period—in the same way man, from the beginning of his existence in
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the matrix of the world, is also a distinct species, that is, man,
and has gradually evolved from one form to another. Therefore
this change of appearance, this evolution of members, this development
and growth, even though we admit the reality of growth
and progress, does not prevent the species from being original.
Man from the beginning was in this perfect form and composition,
and possessed capacity and aptitude for acquiring material and
spiritual perfections, and was the manifestation of these words,
“We will make man in Our image and likeness.” He has only
become more pleasing, more beautiful, and more graceful. Civilization
has brought him out of his wild state, just as the wild fruits
which are cultivated by a gardener became finer, sweeter, and
acquire more freshness and delicacy.
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