Customer Reviews

The Rational Creation

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The Rational Creation is a classic work originally first published in 1855. Although a century and a half old, the book still provides much insight into the origins controversy that is still raging today. I was surprised at the many arguments that Brodie employed that are not often used today, but could be, in this preDarwin work. Brodie covers the body and mental constitution of mankind with much flair, reinforcing the conclusion that much evidence existed for the design argument long before cell biologists, cytologists and other life scientists had a clue about the construction of the cell, an object believed to be a formless blob about as complex as a slurry of flower. Some of the terminology used is exotic, such as using the term aeriform for gas, but most all of the book is very understandable. One of the most useful sections is the chapter titled Animal Facilities and Desires which covers questions still being asked today, such as why do humans love music, love to create, to produce and enjoy art, to compare and contrast, to admire, to be physically active, to love and, yes to hate. Brodie, a minister in the Free Church, extensively compares human behavior to animal behavior, showing that an unbridgeable chasm exists between them, a conclusion that extensive research has not been able to penetrate significantly today. If anything, we now recognize that the gap is much wider than Brodie claimed because we now realize that many assumed similarities between humans and animals are a result of misreading the behavior of animals due to anthropomorphism. Anyone who has a mammal pet knows what I am talking about. I am often sure my dog knows just what I am thing much of the time, but does he really? Science cannot answer this question with certainty. Science can only extrapolate from behavior. I could not find an original copy for less than 400.00 dollars, so this is a bargain