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On A Piece Of Chalk
THIS 30 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Selections of Huxley, by Thomas Henry Huxley.
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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About the author
Thomas Henry Huxley
998 books192 followersThomas Henry Huxley PC FRS HonFRSE FLS was an English biologist and anthropologist specialising in comparative anatomy. He has become known as "Darwin's Bulldog" for his advocacy of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
In 1825, Thomas Henry Huxley was born in England. Huxley coined the term "agnostic" (although George Holyoake also claimed that honor). Huxley defined agnosticism as a method, "the essence of which lies in the rigorous application of a single principle . . . the axiom that every man should be able to give a reason for the faith that is in him." Huxley elaborated: "In matters of the intellect, follow your reason as far as it will take you, without any other consideration. And negatively, in matters of the intellect do not pretend that conclusions are certain which are not demonstrated or demonstrable" (from his essay "Agnosticism").
Huxley received his medical degree from Charing Cross School of Medicine, becoming a physiologist, and was awarded many other honorary degrees. He spent his youth exploring science, especially zoology and anatomy, lecturing on natural history, and writing for scientific publications. He was president of the Royal Society, and was elected to the London School Board in 1870, where he championed a number of common-sense reforms. Huxley earned the nickname "Darwin's Bulldog" when he debated Darwin's On the Origin of Species with Bishop Samuel Wilberforce in Oxford in 1860. When Wilberforce asked him which side of his family contained the ape, Huxley famously replied that he would prefer to descend from an ape than a human being who used his intellect "for the mere purpose of introducing ridicule into grave scientific discussion." Thereafter, Huxley devoted his time to the defense of science over religion. His essays included "Agnosticism and Christianity" (1889). His three rationalist grandsons were Sir Julian Huxley, a biologist, novelist Aldous Huxley, and Andrew Huxley, co-winner of a 1963 Nobel Prize. Huxley, appropriately, received the Darwin Medal in 1894. D. 1895.
More: http://freethoughtalmanac.com/?p=2093
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_H...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic...
http://www.iep.utm.edu/huxley/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/lib...
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/t...
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/ev...
In 1825, Thomas Henry Huxley was born in England. Huxley coined the term "agnostic" (although George Holyoake also claimed that honor). Huxley defined agnosticism as a method, "the essence of which lies in the rigorous application of a single principle . . . the axiom that every man should be able to give a reason for the faith that is in him." Huxley elaborated: "In matters of the intellect, follow your reason as far as it will take you, without any other consideration. And negatively, in matters of the intellect do not pretend that conclusions are certain which are not demonstrated or demonstrable" (from his essay "Agnosticism").
Huxley received his medical degree from Charing Cross School of Medicine, becoming a physiologist, and was awarded many other honorary degrees. He spent his youth exploring science, especially zoology and anatomy, lecturing on natural history, and writing for scientific publications. He was president of the Royal Society, and was elected to the London School Board in 1870, where he championed a number of common-sense reforms. Huxley earned the nickname "Darwin's Bulldog" when he debated Darwin's On the Origin of Species with Bishop Samuel Wilberforce in Oxford in 1860. When Wilberforce asked him which side of his family contained the ape, Huxley famously replied that he would prefer to descend from an ape than a human being who used his intellect "for the mere purpose of introducing ridicule into grave scientific discussion." Thereafter, Huxley devoted his time to the defense of science over religion. His essays included "Agnosticism and Christianity" (1889). His three rationalist grandsons were Sir Julian Huxley, a biologist, novelist Aldous Huxley, and Andrew Huxley, co-winner of a 1963 Nobel Prize. Huxley, appropriately, received the Darwin Medal in 1894. D. 1895.
More: http://freethoughtalmanac.com/?p=2093
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_H...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic...
http://www.iep.utm.edu/huxley/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/lib...
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/t...
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/ev...
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 7, 2022
2001 -- 5 stars
I loved this explanation of evolution, but I don't think it would have moved me as much if I'd heard it in lecture form. Not only could I set my own pace when reading, the book has the advantage of illustrations. I swore that I'd re-read this book every few years, and I'm way past due.
2022 -- 3.5
Still a strong essay, but the magic was gone. Probably because I've read too many similar accounts in the last 20 years.
The opening sentence:
If a well were sunk at our feet in the midst of the city of Norwich, the diggers would very soon find themselves at work in that white substance almost too soft to be called rock, with which we are all familiar as chalk.
I wonder how that line was delivered. Did he read it? Use notes? Did he hold up a piece of chalk ? Had he set out any props? Too bad I couldn't watch his audience while he talked. Even some of the non-scientific sentences are fairly 'heavy' and technical for an audience of blue-collar working men.
For instance, on p 27:
You may not unnaturally suppose that the attempt to solve such problems as these can lead to no result save that of entangling the inquirers in vague speculations incapable of refutation and of verification.
Delivery. How did he pace this script? Again, did he have props? What did he emphasize? Did he add lines that don't appear in this text?
Eiseley's introduction provided helpful background info, as did the notes, geologic timeline, bibliography, and index.
I loved this explanation of evolution, but I don't think it would have moved me as much if I'd heard it in lecture form. Not only could I set my own pace when reading, the book has the advantage of illustrations. I swore that I'd re-read this book every few years, and I'm way past due.
2022 -- 3.5
Still a strong essay, but the magic was gone. Probably because I've read too many similar accounts in the last 20 years.
The opening sentence:
If a well were sunk at our feet in the midst of the city of Norwich, the diggers would very soon find themselves at work in that white substance almost too soft to be called rock, with which we are all familiar as chalk.
I wonder how that line was delivered. Did he read it? Use notes? Did he hold up a piece of chalk ? Had he set out any props? Too bad I couldn't watch his audience while he talked. Even some of the non-scientific sentences are fairly 'heavy' and technical for an audience of blue-collar working men.
For instance, on p 27:
You may not unnaturally suppose that the attempt to solve such problems as these can lead to no result save that of entangling the inquirers in vague speculations incapable of refutation and of verification.
Delivery. How did he pace this script? Again, did he have props? What did he emphasize? Did he add lines that don't appear in this text?
Eiseley's introduction provided helpful background info, as did the notes, geologic timeline, bibliography, and index.
August 17, 2017
Fantastic example of science for laymen.
October 18, 2021
good work.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews