In order to get my degree in Biology, I had to read Origin of the Species three times-
Once in Intellectual Heritage (about 30% of it)
Once in Evolution (the whole thing, although this was an elective)
Once in Genetics. (about 50% of it.)
In order to graduate from High School, I had to read it completely twice, once for Bio, and once for English.
So, that's five times for me. I'm reading it again for pleasure right now and to help my son pass bio in his high school.
The reason I ask this is that I find it very hard to believe some very educated people have read it, based on some of the wacky stuff they claim is in it, so I wonder if I just had a unique experience in being required to read it so many times...
I was a classics minor, and this led to me reading Oedipus Rex about five times, too, but I don't usually hear people claiming that is about anything not in it.
2007-03-21 05:29:49 · 8 answers · asked by LabGrrl 7 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Some examples of what I have heard is in it:
God is dead (never mentions god)
White men are superior (never talks about humans and skin color)
In Origin of the Species, Darwin says that man evolved.... (doesn't discuss descent of man, or use the word evolution)
I don't think these are interpretive mistakes, I think these are just people who never read it.
(I don't find it dry, just rereading it reminds me how LIMITED in SCOPE it really is.)
2007-03-21 06:23:34 · update #1
4 times meself.
Ye find it hard to believe that educated people can read a book and get different opinions or make up stuff that they "think" they read & understood?
Ever been to the Religion & Spirituality section? LOL!
2007-03-21 05:41:47 · answer #1 · answered by ~The Medieval Islander~ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
16
2007-03-21 05:32:02 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'm just a high school grad, but in high school I took three advanced biology classes from a college prof. At any rate, I was never asked to read any part of it even once.
2007-03-21 05:33:51 · answer #3 · answered by effin drunk 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I read it once. It's useful in its historical context on 19th century thought on biology. But there are now many, many more texts with up to date information on evolutionary processes. My favorite authors I would recommend are Kenneth Kardong on comparative morphology, Sean Carroll on developmental biology and molecular genetics, Peter Ward on extinction events in paleontology, Jack Szostack on abiogenesis and Neil deGrasse Tyson on origins within a greater cosmic framework.
2007-03-21 08:03:57 · answer #4 · answered by Dendronbat Crocoduck 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
My friends a bio student and she had to read to once all the way through and then section of it again as she needed to refer back to it.
2007-03-21 05:32:47 · answer #5 · answered by Jamion 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
what people derive from others writings can seem totally profound and yet the interpreter is full of it. sometimes things are exactly as they are , no analyzing bull sh
2007-03-21 05:36:14 · answer #6 · answered by lostinalamos 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have never been required to read it.
I'm actually not a fan of it - it's very...dry. But I'm glad that I *did* read it.
2007-03-21 05:55:31 · answer #7 · answered by Brian L 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I've never been required to read it.
I've chosen to read it once.
2007-03-21 05:39:54 · answer #8 · answered by Vegan 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋