In Chapter 19 of The Descent of Man, Darwin writes a long passage in which he speculates about the evolution of musical abilities. In this passage (pp. 236-239 of the assigned readings for Class 9), Darwin applies to music a number of arguments that he had developed and used in trying to explain other organs and characteristics. Write a short essay in which you reflect on Darwin’s arguments, making sure you address the following questions:
(a) How does Darwin’s argument to explain the evolution of musical faculties relate to his explanation of the evolution of complex organs such as the eye?
(b) How does Darwin’s argument to explain the evolution of musical faculties relate to his explanation of the evolution of intellectual abilities?
(c) What are the reasons Darwin gives to criticize the view that musical abilities could have developed from language (i.e., what he calls “articulate speech”)?
Don’t just repeat what the text says, but offer an extended explanation. Expected length: 2 to 3 double-spaced pages, or approximately 800-1,000 words.
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