Evolutionary Tree of Life

by Richard William Nelson | Jun 21, 2013

Tree of LifeThe history of the evolutionary tree of life, from Greek philosophers to twenty-first-century scientists, gives insights into the theory’s origin and transition through Western civilization.

While approaches have been diverse, elements progressing into increasing complexity over time are a constant theme.

Porphyry (234–305 BC), a third-century Greek philosopher, composed the first known tree of life in his work entitled Isagoge while living in Sicily. Isagoge is an “Introduction” Porphyry edited into Aristotle‘s (384–322 BC) text known as Categories.

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Out-of-Asia Dilemma

by Richard William Nelson | Jun 14, 2013

Archicebus_achilles Charles Darwin started the debate over where humans originated. In the 19th century, most evolution scientists believed humans originated in Asia–the Out-of-Asia model. In the 6th Edition of The Origin of Species (1872), while Darwin mentions “humans” ten times, he never discusses the origin of humans.

Darwin studied African apes for the 1st Edition of The Descent of Man (1871). In the section entitled “On the Birthplace and Antiquity of Man,” Darwin argued –

“It is somewhat more probable that our early progenitors lived on the African continent than elsewhere.”

Darwin started evolution’s Out-of-Africa vs. Out-of-Asia dilemma.

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