السلام عليكم و رحمة الله
I thought I had to share these unbelievable parts/facts in the book by Charles Darwin Descent of Man.
The sentences are from chapter 1. That chapter is dedicated to explaining the similarities between humans and monkeys (not apes). Darwin hypothesises that if similarities exists between two creatures then that means they had a common ancestor (even though there are major flaws and one of it is the fact that homology assumes that similarities are due to common descent. It doesn't prove it nor can it prove it but we'll follow the logic. Read more on the problem here). So Darwin wanted to show similarities not just in bodily structure and brain structure but even with the taste buds. Darwin said,
"Many kinds of monkeys have a strong taste for tea, coffee, and spirituous liquors: they will also, as I have myself seen, smoke tobacco with pleasure"[1]
Then Darwin shared,
"Brehm asserts that the native of north-eastern Africa catch the wild baboons by exposing vessels with strong beer, by which they are made drunk. He has seen some of these animals, which he kept in confinement, in this state; and he gives a laughable account of their behaviour and strange grimaces. On the following morning they were very cross and dismal; they held their aching heads with both hands, and wore a most pitiable expression: when beer or wine was offered them, they turned away with disgust, but relished the juice of lemons"[2]
And finally,
"An American monkey, an Ateles, after getting drunk on brandy, would never touch it again, and thus was wiser than many men" [3]
Unbelievable but very amusing facts. Monkeys are wiser than men.
References
1. Charles Darwin, 1874, 2nd edition, The Descent of Man, Penguin Classics, page 23. Darwin also has a reference at the end of the sentence and the reference states, "The same tastes are common to some animals much lower in the scale. Mr A. Nicols informs me that he kept in Queensland, in Australia, three individuals of the Phaseolarctus cinereus; and that, without having been taught in any way, they acquired taste for rum, and for smoking tobacco."
2. Ibid, page 23-24. Darwin referenced it with "Brehm, 'Thierleben', B. i. 1864, s. 75, 86. On the Ateles, s. 105. For other analogous statements, see s. 25, 107.
3. Ibid, page 24.
I thought I had to share these unbelievable parts/facts in the book by Charles Darwin Descent of Man.
The sentences are from chapter 1. That chapter is dedicated to explaining the similarities between humans and monkeys (not apes). Darwin hypothesises that if similarities exists between two creatures then that means they had a common ancestor (even though there are major flaws and one of it is the fact that homology assumes that similarities are due to common descent. It doesn't prove it nor can it prove it but we'll follow the logic. Read more on the problem here). So Darwin wanted to show similarities not just in bodily structure and brain structure but even with the taste buds. Darwin said,
"Many kinds of monkeys have a strong taste for tea, coffee, and spirituous liquors: they will also, as I have myself seen, smoke tobacco with pleasure"[1]
 |
| Howling monkey |
"Brehm asserts that the native of north-eastern Africa catch the wild baboons by exposing vessels with strong beer, by which they are made drunk. He has seen some of these animals, which he kept in confinement, in this state; and he gives a laughable account of their behaviour and strange grimaces. On the following morning they were very cross and dismal; they held their aching heads with both hands, and wore a most pitiable expression: when beer or wine was offered them, they turned away with disgust, but relished the juice of lemons"[2]
And finally,
"An American monkey, an Ateles, after getting drunk on brandy, would never touch it again, and thus was wiser than many men" [3]
Unbelievable but very amusing facts. Monkeys are wiser than men.
References
1. Charles Darwin, 1874, 2nd edition, The Descent of Man, Penguin Classics, page 23. Darwin also has a reference at the end of the sentence and the reference states, "The same tastes are common to some animals much lower in the scale. Mr A. Nicols informs me that he kept in Queensland, in Australia, three individuals of the Phaseolarctus cinereus; and that, without having been taught in any way, they acquired taste for rum, and for smoking tobacco."
2. Ibid, page 23-24. Darwin referenced it with "Brehm, 'Thierleben', B. i. 1864, s. 75, 86. On the Ateles, s. 105. For other analogous statements, see s. 25, 107.
3. Ibid, page 24.
