SOME ANSWERED QUESTIONS
by:
Abdu'l-Baha
A Baha'i View
49
THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
OF THE HUMAN RACE
Question.--What do you say with regard to the theories
held by some European philosophers on the growth and
development of beings?
Answer.--This subject was spoken of the other day,
but we will speak of it again. Briefly, this question will be
decided by determining whether species are original or
not--that is to say, has the species of man been established
from its origin, or was it afterward derived from the animals?
Certain European philosophers agree that the species
grows and develops, and that even change and alteration
are also possible. One of the proofs that they give for this
theory is that through the attentive study and verification
of the science of geology it has become clear that the existence
of the vegetable preceded that of the animal, and that
of the animal preceded that of man. They admit that both
the vegetable and the animal species have changed, for in
some of the strata of the earth they have discovered plants
which existed in the past and are now extinct; they have
progressed, grown in strength, their form and appearance
have changed, and so the species have altered. In the same
way, in the strata of the earth there are some species of
animals which have changed and are transformed. One of
these animals is the serpent. There are indications that the
serpent once had feet, but through the lapse of time those
members have disappeared. In the same way, in the vertebral
column of man there is an indication which amounts
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to a proof that, like other animals, he once had a tail. At
one time that member was useful, but when man developed,
it was no longer of use; and, therefore, it gradually
disappeared. As the serpent took refuge under the ground
and became a creeping animal, it was no longer in need of
feet, so they disappeared; but their traces survive. The
principal argument is this: that the existence of traces of
members proves that they once existed, and as now they
are no longer of service, they have gradually disappeared.
Therefore, while the perfect and necessary members have
remained, those which are unnecessary have gradually
disappeared by the modification of the species, but the
traces of them continue.
The first answer to this argument is the fact that the
animal having preceded man is not a proof of the evolution,
change and alteration of the species, nor that man
was raised from the animal world to the human world. For
while the individual appearance of these different beings is
certain, it is possible that man came into existence after the
animal. So when we examine the vegetable kingdom, we
see that the fruits of the different trees do not arrive at
maturity at one time; on the contrary, some come first and
others afterward. This priority does not prove that the
later fruit of one tree was produced from the earlier fruit of
another tree.
Second, these slight signs and traces of members have
perhaps a great reason of which the mind is not yet cognizant.
How many things exist of which we do not yet know
the reason! So the science of physiology--that is to say,
the knowledge of the composition of the members--
records that the reason and cause of the difference in the
colors of animals, and of the hair of men, of the redness of
the lips, and of the variety of the colors of birds, is still unknown;
it is secret and hidden. But it is known that the
pupil of the eye is black so as to attract the rays of the sun,
for if it were another color--that is, uniformly white--it
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would not attract the rays of the sun. Therefore, as the
reason of the things we have mentioned is unknown, it is
possible that the reason and the wisdom of these traces of
members, whether they be in the animal or man, are
equally unknown. Certainly there is a reason, even though
it is not known.
Third, let us suppose that there was a time when some
animals, or even man, possessed some members which
have now disappeared; this is not a sufficient proof of the
change and evolution of the species. For man, from the
beginning of the embryonic period till he reaches the degree
of maturity, goes through different forms and appearances.
His aspect, his form, his appearance and color
change; he passes from one form to another, and from one
appearance to another. Nevertheless, from the beginning
of the embryonic period he is of the species of man--that
is to say, an embryo of a man and not of an animal; but this
is not at first apparent, but later it becomes visible and evident.
For example, let us suppose that man once resembled
the animal, and that now he has progressed and
changed. Supposing this to be true, it is still not a proof of
the change of species. No, as before mentioned, it is
merely like the change and alteration of the embryo of man
until it reaches the degree of reason and perfection. We
will state it more clearly. Let us suppose that there was a
time when man walked on his hands and feet, or had a tail;
this change and alteration is like that of the fetus in the
womb of the mother. Although it changes in all ways, and
grows and develops until it reaches the perfect form, from
the beginning it is a special species. We also see in the vegetable
kingdom that the original species of the genus do
not change and alter, but the form, color and bulk will
change and alter, or even progress.
To recapitulate: as man in the womb of the mother
passes from form to form, from shape to shape, changes
and develops, and is still the human species from the beginning
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of the embryonic period--in the same way man,
from the beginning of his existence in the matrix of the
world, is also a distinct species--that is, man--and has
gradually evolved from one form to another. Therefore,
this change of appearance, this evolution of members, this
development and growth, even though we admit the
reality of growth and progress,+F1 does not prevent the species
from being original. Man from the beginning was in
this perfect form and composition, and possessed capacity
and aptitude for acquiring material and spiritual perfections,
and was the manifestation of these words, "We will
make man in Our image and likeness."+F2 He has only become
more pleasing, more beautiful and more graceful.
Civilization has brought him out of his wild state, just as
the wild fruits which are cultivated by a gardener become
finer, sweeter and acquire more freshness and delicacy.
The gardeners of the world of humanity are the Prophets
of God.
+F1 i.e., if we admit, for example, that man had formerly been a
+F1 quadruped, or had had a tail.
+F2 Cf. Gen. 1:26.
[Abdu'l-Baha: SOME ANSWERED QUESTIONS
Baha'i Publishing Trust
Wilmette, IL 60091
Copyright 1930, 1954, 1964, 1981
by the National Spiritual Assembly of
the Baha'is of the United States
ISBN 0-87743-190-6 ]
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