American Philosophical Society Museum

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Philadelphia Area Center for History of Science

Dialogues with Darwin: An Exhibition of Historical Documents and Contemporary Art

Human Origins: The Big Questions

How much can evolutionary theory explain about humans? Do the same laws that govern animals also govern us? Can evolution explain emotions such as love and grief?

Darwin blurred the line between animals and humans, exploring the extent to which “human nature” was also “animal nature.” At the same time, he and other scientists also grappled with two other challenging questions: Are all humans related? What makes humans different from each other?