The Dragons of Eden, Carl Sagan
Introduction
The book The Dragons of Eden by Carl Sagan focuses on human evolution. The author, a biologist, talks about evolution of species on varying levels through varying timelines. It is not possible to speak of evolution without referring to Darwin. As such, the author briefly mentions Darwin in the book. The human species, for example, has evolved over the years from the hunter-gatherer. Due to physical evolution, features have changed to adapt to the new changes. The author, in this regard, infers that evolution comes with adaptation.
The book, however, does not only focus on the physical aspect of evolution but the brain aspect as well. In this regard, human intelligence has evolved as well. The subject of evolution evokes a physical connotation that happens years ago. The author brings a different kind of evolution into perspective. The purpose of the paper is to focus on evolution, which is the central theme of the book. As such, a review of the book is done as regards the authors’ achievement of the book’s primary goal.
General Field of the Book
The book is centered on various aspects. Biology and science come into perspective through the different scenarios highlighted. The author, for example, talks about genetic and physical evolution (Sagan, 1986, p3), which is a biological perspective. The brain is focused on as regards intelligence. The evolution of the brain is biological, while the knowledge as regards terrestrial studies is scientific. Based on the book, it is impossible to focus on brain evolution without looking at intelligence. Intelligence consequently goes hand in hand with cosmic evolution. The book, in this regard, fits into the two categories mentioned. It focuses on extraterrestrial activity, thus fulfilling the scientific approach. The genetic evolution (Sagan, 1986, p12), on the other hand, fulfills the biological aspect.
Point of View
The author, concerning the biological aspect, talks about the brain. Tests have shown that a rat usually functions even when the part of the brain is removed (Sagan, 1986, p19). In this regard, the rats’ pre-conditioning functions normally. Brain stimulation has also been known to bring back specific memories in human beings. Just as memory can be retrieved, it can also be erased, leaving no memories. The mutation is yet another aspect that the author focuses on. The author asserts that mutation usually is not a choice action. Species involved in mutation are predisposed. The moth, for example, mutated in which case the melanin levels shifted. As a result, there were white moths as opposed to the regular black moths.
Mutation, though occurring without choice, can have a negative or positive impact. While it might work against the natural order, it could also work to the advantage of the species. The overall point of the view of the author is that evolution takes place inevitably. As the years go by, evolution seems to take place at a faster rate than in previous years. Animals go through mutation as well. The mule, for example, is the product of a mutation process through cross-breeding. As regards the gene mutation and brain perspective I agree with the author. Both aspects are indicative of evolution, which is the main focus of the author.
Theme
Evolution
Genetic Mutation
Genetic mutation of animals is one of the themes in the book. Mutation can result through the cross-breeding of species such as animals. The mule, for example, is a cross-breed of a donkey and a horse. Products of mutation through cross-breeding exhibit signs of the original genes. These exhibitions could be better or worse than the original species. A mule, for example, may not be as fast as a horse due to the addition of the donkey gene. The continued mutation through cross breeding results in the inception of a new breed. Dog cross-breeding, for example, which is standard results in stronger or weaker breeds.
A mutation could also take place through a change in genealogy. Change, in this case, could be a change in chromosomes or melanin. In moths, for example, melanin deficiency results in white moths. In human beings, melanin deficiency results in albinos. A genetic change in the reproductive system, for example, could result in a human being with undefined sexuality. The non-classification of male or female gender results in a different kind of sexuality that is not naturally occurring. The genetic mutation could work for or against a species. A white moth, for example, could easily camouflage under the light as opposed to a black moth. The continued genetic mutation through coloring could eventually lead to the emergence of a new species.
From a scientific perspective, the author highlights terrestrial existence. Terrestrial beings are deemed as mutations with higher intelligence levels. Even though it is challenging to tell the exact kind of mutation, the presence of such species is indicative of evolution.
Brain Intelligence
Brain intelligence has evolved as intimated in the book. There is a possible relation between brain size and intelligence, as concluded by Valen (Sagan, 1986, p24). Bearing this in mind, a question of brain size comes to mind as regards the evolution of human beings. Mammals such as sharks and whales have been known to have colossal brain mass. Intelligence is equally deemed higher in these mammals (Sagan, 1986, p27) in comparison to mammals with smaller brain sizes. Intelligence evolution automatically changes the way of living. Intelligence evolution, for example, determines evolution state as far as humans are concerned. Intelligence in this regard is the grounds under which further evolution happens. Scientific and biological breakthroughs come about as a result of brain intelligence.
Human beings have evolved from hunters and gatherers to more sophisticated species. The intelligence evolution thus not only leads to further evolution but changes lifestyle as well. The author, for example, gives an example of events that have happened throughout human existence. Some of the events, such as the invention of agriculture (Sagan, 1986, p10), are as a result of brain intelligence. Adaptation is thus concurrent with evolution. Agriculture soon evolved to industrialization and subsequent technology. All these eras have necessitated a different kind of lifestyle. With each new change, human beings adapt to the new way of doing things that includes thinking.
The awareness and study of extraterrestrial activity are a result of evolution through brain intelligence. More profound thinking is the reason why there is the intimation that there is life in other planets away from planet earth. Communication is believed to exist from the galactic species. Such theories exist as a result of evolution through intelligence. Intelligence takes on a biological aspect as well as a scientific aspect. Brain development and function is a biological aspect as relates to human development. The existence of life in other galaxies is an aspect based on scientific approaches.
Dominance
The author equally highlights dominance through a focus on sexual behavior among species. Squirrel monkeys, for example, display sexual dominance through behavior unique to the monkeys. Intelligence could be attributed to the behavior which might be deemed uncouth. However, for the monkeys, the behavior equates to communication aimed at the assertion of dominance. Humans are deemed the most intelligent species. Humans showcase dominance through sexual behavior, as well (Sagan, 1986, p36). The behavior exhibited in athletes’ locker rooms could be seen as an assertion of dominance. It is important to note that even though actual communication may not be used, the body language could showcase dominance and manhood.
Book Relevance
The book is relevant as it focuses on essential change aspects. Human and animal evolution is a critical aspect of understanding the existence and extinction of human and animal life. It is believed that man evolved from a primate walking on four legs to walking on two. The change not only happened physically but also involved a difference in the way of living. The change in the activities of early man coincided with a change in the biological appearance of humans. The elongated limbs and hairy bodies, for example, changed. Shorter limbs and less hairy bodies, as well as more pronounced posture, were evident. In this regard, the hunter and gatherer were different from the agricultural human.
Change comes with adaptation; hence the continued adaptation can be attributed to continued evolution. Lack of adjustment, for example, has led to the gradual extinction of animals. Dinosaurs and dragons, for instance, are nonexistent (Sagan, 1986, p94) due to the lack of adaptation to the new environment. Extinction could also be attributed to the predatory behavior of other animals that eventually render the animals extinct. The changes come with a new era that is concurrent with new genetics and intelligence.
The change is significant in understanding evolution in medical fields as well. New diseases come without possible cures. However, over time some of the diseases become extinct due to genetic changes. Treatments that do not exist at the onset are also sought in the long run rendering such conditions treatable. Genetic mutation is thus not only important in understanding evolution from a biological perspective but a scientific perspective as well. Evolution through mutation assists in determining superior qualities. Humans and animals can, in this case, adapt to superior characteristics. Intelligence, memory, and physical strength, for example, can be altered through gene mutation. The reverse is also true. Gene mutation could also be used to reduce the chances of exposure to specific health conditions.
Book Objectivity
The author does not only rely on his knowledge but infuses the works of other people as well. The inclusion of other people’s work revolving around the revolution topic gives objectivity. The use of other people’s knowledge lets the reader know that the information relayed in the book is not solely the work of the author. It is important to note that the author’s background is in biology. As such, a reader would be skeptical about the author’s knowledge of scientific issues, for example.
Objectivity is equally used through a focus on various aspects of evolution. At the onset, a reader thinks that the author is focusing on human evolution. However, the book focuses on multiple types of development, such as human and animal evolution. The author uses various topics to focus on the subject at hand. As such, the reader gets varied information from different subject matters. Despite the use of different topics, the subject remains the same. Brain intelligence, for example, undertakes various perspectives from various topics. Even though the subject matter remains the same, the reader gets different opinions and, by extension, a better understanding of the subject. Intelligence is also used across both human beings and animals. In this regard, the author depicts a correlation as far as brain size and intelligence are concerned (Sagan, 1986, p24). Perspectives from an intelligence and mutation aspect are brought into perspective. Focus on the varying change aspects contributes to objectivity as far as the subject of evolution is concerned.
Usefulness to Intended Audience
Individuals interested in evolution could find the book useful. The book focuses on various topics such as intelligence (Sagan, 1986, p24) and mutation. Such information is helpful to the intended audience as it correlates evolution to gene mutation and brain intelligence. The audience, therefore, gets a better understanding of evolution as it relates to both humans and animals.
Conclusion
The main focus of the book is evolution. As far as the main focus is concerned, the author covers the subject substantively. The book showcases strength in the matter of evolution through the various topics covered. The book, in this regard, achieves the purpose for which the author intended. Individuals interested in learning more about brain intelligence as well as mutation could find the book appealing. The book has a biological as well as a scientific approach. A reader interested in the correlation between the two subject matters could equally find the book interesting.
It is, however, interesting to note that the focus on the many topics could equally render the book boring to certain audiences. The approach used in the book thus comes across as tedious. There is too much information that seems to give the reader a feeling of information overload. Even though the subject matter of the book is interesting, the information could come across as too much. A reader with a low-level understanding may also not find the book appealing due to the language used. The book, therefore, favors audiences with a biological background and a deep understanding of the subject. A person interested in evolution may, in this regard, find the book too sophisticated. The approach used in the book thus comes across as tedious. The book was published in 1986 by Carl Sagan, which means that most readers at that time may not have had the education level that is common today. As such, the book could only have been understood by people with an elevated educational level.
It is, however, essential to note that there is something to be learned from the book. As earlier inferred, the book focuses on evolution. The intelligence aspect of evolution is, in particular, very informative. Adaptation is vital in supporting change. As such, a reader can relate adaptation to change in modern-day living. Technology, for example, has changed the way of life. Lack of adjustment in this regard would render some services obsolete. Adaptation in this regard is easily understood from a modern-day approach. Given the issues mentioned above, the book would get a rating of three stars out of five. The book has an appealing subject, but the delivery is a bit off. The average score given is, therefore, for this reason.
References
Sagan, C. (1986). The dragons of Eden. Ballantine Books.