Debating Humankind's Place in Nature, 1860-2000: The Nature of Paleoanthropology

by Richard G. Delisle

This text, the only one of its kind on the market, surveys the development of the field of human evolution from its inception through today. It provides students with a broad contrast enabling them to fully understand the value and role of current paleoanthropological research.



An historical approach - Establishes for students the nature of paleoanthropology through the historical development of the field from 1860 through 2000 and shows students that paleoanthropology is a remarkably progressive field.. A focus on the debates in the field of human evolution (especially the phylogenetic or genealogical debates)– Analyzes four distinct debates, presented separately from their inception to the 1) Humankind's place among the primates; 2) The place of the australopithecines relative to the human line; 3) Debates on human phylogeny proper; 4) Proposed scenarios of hominization. Presentation and analysis of the viewpoints of over 150 scholars - Gives students a valuable reference work for the future (includes over 1200 references in the bibliography) as well as a comprehensive text for today. For junior/senior courses in Human Evolution and Paleoanthropology in Anthropology departments.

Genres: Anthropology

Paperback

First published February 1, 2006

Reviews

[Matthew Barnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The research behind Man’s Place in Nature by Charles Delisle is clearly thorough and deeply impressive. This book isn’t tailored for readers entirely new to the subject—it assumes some familiarity—but it serves as an excellent conduit for understanding the essence of paleoanthropology. Beyond that, it offers a fascinating glimpse into the minds and reasoning of the scientists we’ve come to admire and respect in the field. It stands out as a fantastic reference work for anyone needing a reliable resource on the topic. I highly recommend it.