The Human Race

"The Human Race" by Louis Figuier is an ethnology study. The book covers topics like the Definition of Man—How he differs from other Animals—The origin of Man—In what parts of the Earth did he first appear?—General characteristics of the human race—Organic characteristics—Senses and the nervous system—Height—Skeleton—Cranium and face—Colour of the skin—etc. Excerpt: «What is man? A profound thinker, Cardinal de Bonald, has said: „Man is an intelligence assisted by organs.“ We would fain adopt this definition, which brings into relief the true attribute of man, intelligence, were it not defective in drawing no sufficient distinction between man and the brute. It is a fact that animals are intelligent and that their intelligence is assisted by organs. But their intelligence is infinitely inferior to that of man. It does not extend beyond the necessities of attack and defence, the power of seeking food, and a small number of affections or passions, whose very limited scope merely extends to material wants. With man, on the other hand, intelligence is of a high order, although its range is limited, and it is often arrested, powerless and mute, before the problems itself proposes.»