舊書到:The ascent of man by Henry Drummond 1894 1st edition. (Henry Drummond -> John Fiske -> Herbert Spencer)


今天在 Strand bookstore 收了本有趣的書 Henry Drummond 的
The ascent of man 1894 第一版第一刷.

除了書的本身內容之外,
考究前擁有者也是個有趣的事情




第一步線索是書開頁的 booklet.這本書之前主人是 Henry B. Thompson 還有個訊息在上方是 Brookwood Farm.用這兩個字當訊息,首先

有個在 Siler City,NC 的 Brookwood Farm 主要賣漢堡,BBQ,嗯,應該不是這個。

另外有一個 Canton, MA 的,嗯~ 不太確定.


不過搜索 Henry B. Thompson 有個肖像,記錄在 Princeton University Art Museum (link) 裡面.有機會,而且他的年份 1857 - 1935 也很有可能.繼續找.

使用Brookwood Farm booklet 當關鍵字!

有了,在 Delaware Art Museum 找到了!



Artist Bertha Corson Day (American painter and illustrator, 1875–1968)
Medium Ink and gouache on illustration board
Dimensions image: 3 7/8 × 4 7/8 in. (9.8 × 12.4 cm)
support: 5 1/8 × 6 1/4 in. (13 × 15.9 cm)
Credit Line Gift of Mrs. J. Marshall Cole, 1982
Object number1982-53
Classifications DRAWING
新增加的訊息!

    1. 這是 Henry B. Thompson 使用的 booklet 雖然還是不知道誰!?
    2. 不過,Delaware 和前面 Princeton University 可以視為有地緣關係的可能性.
    3. 另外,畫家 Bertha Corson Day 是出生在 Germantown 活躍在費城的藝術家,網路有很多訊息(link


 



嗯~ 如果 Brookwood Farm 居住的地方
那,試著用 Brookwood Farm 和 Thompson 來找看看

oh Yes!


找到極有價值的標的,Mary Wilson Thompson wiki

    1. Mary Wilson Thompson (October 30, 1866 – April 2, 1947) was a Delaware civic leader. As leader of the Delaware Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage, she is credited with the Delaware General Assembly's failure to ratify the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in the United States.

    是Delaware 公民意見領袖

    2. She married wealthy textile businessman Henry Burling Thompson.

    她嫁給 Henry Burling Thompson 應該就是前面Princeton 的肖像畫本人.

    3. She designed the home herself with the assistance of her son, who was studying architecture at Princeton University.

    家族與 Princeton University 有關

    4. Mary Wilson Thompson died on April 2, 1947, at her home Brookwood Farm in Greenville, Delaware.

    她居住的地方被成為,Brookwood Farm 所以,『真実はいつもひとつ』
    她的先生是也居住在 Brookwood Farm 的 Henry Burling Thompson ,
    所以她應該就是這本書(前)擁有者的妻子!!


不過,她家族的生活好像蠻不幸的,(例如知名未解決案件 Disappearance of Jim Thompson)就是關於他兒子的杯具.想到現任總統.

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書的解析,利用 NotebookLM

The Ascent of Man

Henry Drummond's Lowell Lectures on the Ascent of Man explore the evolution of humanity, arguing that existing evolutionary theories are incomplete. Drummond emphasizes a "Struggle for the Life of Others," alongside the well-known "Struggle for Life," as a crucial factor driving human development. The lectures trace the physical ascent of man, detailing the vestigial structures reflecting our animal ancestry. Furthermore, they examine the development of the human mind and language, highlighting the unique emergence of self-consciousness and the role of language in accelerating mental evolution. Finally, the lectures discuss the evolution of family structures, particularly the crucial roles of mothers and fathers in shaping human morality and society.


This book discusses the process of evolution, starting with a broad overview and then focusing on the evolution of the human body and mind. Here's a chapter-by-chapter summary of the central topics:

Introduction: 

This section lays the groundwork for the book's argument. It establishes the importance of evolution as a concept, discusses the limitations of focusing solely on the "Struggle for Life" as the driving force of evolution, and introduces the "Struggle for the Life of Others" as a crucial, often overlooked factor. The introduction emphasizes the interconnectedness of all life and the need to consider humanity's place in the evolutionary process.


Chapter I: The Ascent of the Body: 

This chapter explores the physical evolution of the human body. It traces the development of the human embryo, highlighting how it recapitulates stages from earlier life forms, like fish and reptiles. This process demonstrates humanity's connection to its animal ancestors. The chapter emphasizes that the human body is a product of millions of years of evolution, with each stage building upon the progress of those that came before it.


Chapter II: The Scaffolding Left in the Body: 

This chapter examines the physical remnants of humanity's evolutionary past that still exist in the human body. These "vestigial structures" are like leftover scaffolding from earlier evolutionary stages, and they provide further evidence of humanity's connection to its animal ancestry. Examples include the muscles for twitching the ears, the remnants of the nictitating membrane in the eye, and the coccyx.


Chapter III: The Arrest of the Body: 

This chapter argues that while the human body continues to evolve in subtle ways, its physical development has largely reached a plateau. The focus has shifted from physical evolution to mental and social evolution. The chapter uses examples like eyesight, which has reached its peak, to illustrate this point. It also discusses "persistent types of life" that haven't changed significantly for millennia, suggesting that certain evolutionary lines reach a natural limit.


Chapter IV: The Dawn of Mind: 

This chapter explores the emergence of the human mind. It discusses the challenges of studying the evolution of something as intangible as the mind, considering evidence from animal behavior, prehistoric artifacts, and the study of contemporary primitive cultures. The chapter suggests that while the human mind is distinct and far more advanced, it likely arose from the mental capacities of lower animals.


Chapter V: The Evolution of Language: 

This chapter investigates the origins of human language. It argues that language arose from a combination of gestures, vocalizations, and onomatopoeia. The chapter explores how early humans likely began using sounds to communicate information and express their thoughts and feelings. It also discusses how the complexity of language evolved over time, with the development of grammar, syntax, and a vast vocabulary.


Chapter VI: The Struggle for Life: 

This chapter revisits the concept of the "Struggle for Life," emphasizing its role in human evolution and the development of human societies. It highlights the diverse ways in which humans have adapted to different environments and developed unique cultures and technologies to survive. The chapter also acknowledges the downsides of the Struggle for Life, such as competition and conflict, but argues that it has ultimately been a driving force for progress.


Chapter VII: The Struggle for the Life of Others: 

This chapter further develops the idea of the "Struggle for the Life of Others" as a vital force in evolution, particularly in the development of altruism, cooperation, and social bonds. It argues that this struggle is just as important as the Struggle for Life, and that it lays the foundation for morality, compassion, and social progress. The chapter focuses on the emergence of parental care, particularly motherhood, as a key example of the Struggle for the Life of Others.


Chapter VIII: The Evolution of a Mother: 

This chapter dives deeper into the evolution of motherhood, exploring how it has shaped human evolution and the development of altruistic behavior. It argues that the extended period of infancy in humans, requiring sustained parental care, fostered the development of maternal love and the expansion of altruistic tendencies. The chapter examines the physiological and psychological changes associated with motherhood and discusses how maternal care contributes to the development of essential human virtues.


Chapter IX: The Evolution of a Father: 

This chapter examines the evolution of fatherhood and the role of the father in the family unit. It acknowledges the challenges of tracing the origins of fatherly care, as it is less prominent in nature compared to motherhood. However, it argues that the evolution of monogamy and the establishment of the family played a crucial role in promoting fatherly involvement and the development of paternal instincts. The chapter explores the contributions of fatherhood to human society and emphasizes the importance of both parents in the upbringing of children.

Chapter X: Involution: 

This concluding chapter reflects on the overall process of evolution, moving beyond the solely biological perspective. It introduces the concept of "Involution" to describe the inward development of human consciousness, morality, and spirituality. It argues that while the human body has largely reached a plateau in its physical evolution, the human mind and spirit continue to evolve toward higher levels of consciousness, driven by ideals and aspirations. The chapter emphasizes the interconnectedness of the material and spiritual aspects of human existence and suggests that evolution is ultimately a process of spiritual unfolding.

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延伸:Henry Drummond -> John Fiske -> Herbert Spencer

In 1888 he published Tropical Africa, a valuable digest of information. In 1890 he travelled in Australia, and in 1893 delivered the Lowell Lectures in Boston. He had meant to keep them aside for mature revision, but an attempted piracy compelled him to hasten their publication, and they appeared in 1894 under the title of The Ascent of Man. Their object was to ratify altruism or, the disinterested care and compassion of animals for each other, important in effecting the survival of the fittest, a thesis previously maintained by philosopher professor John Fiske.



John Fiske:

John Fiske (March 30, 1842 – July 4, 1901) was an American philosopher and historian. He was heavily influenced by Herbert Spencer and applied Spencer's concepts of evolution to his own writings on linguistics, philosophy, religion, and history.

The largest part of his life was devoted to the study of history, but at an early age inquiries into the nature of human progress led him to a careful study of the doctrine of evolution, and it was through the popularization of Herbert Spencer's work that he first became known to the public. He applied himself to the philosophical interpretation of Darwin's work and produced many books and essays on this subject. His philosophy was influenced by Herbert Spencer's views on evolution. In a letter from Charles Darwin to John Fiske, dated from 1874, the naturalist remarks: "I never in my life read so lucid an expositor (and therefore thinker) as you are."



Herbert Spencer:

Herbert Spencer (27 April 1820 – 8 December 1903) was an English polymath active as a philosopher, psychologist, biologist, sociologist, and anthropologist. Spencer originated the expression "survival of the fittest", which he coined in Principles of Biology (1864) after reading Charles Darwin's 1859 book On the Origin of Species. The term strongly suggests natural selection, yet Spencer saw evolution as extending into realms of sociology and ethics, so he also supported Lamarckism.

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