Adolf Portmann was a zoologist whose work transcended traditional biology. He primarily focused on marine biology and the comparative morphology of vertebrates. His scientific contributions lay in an interdisciplinary approach, connecting zoological findings with sociological and philosophical aspects of both animal and human life. Through this lens, he explored deeper connections within the natural world.
Recognized for its cultural significance, this work contributes to the foundational knowledge of civilization. It has been selected by scholars for its importance, highlighting its relevance in understanding historical and cultural contexts.
Portmann, a Swiss zoologist, argues against investigating human nature only through biological comparison to other animals, and suggests concentration on our uniqueness as a species. He describes two concepts of evolution the biological and the historical and argues that we must go beyond the mechanism of mutation in order to understand our origins. Beautifully conceived and executed, but Portmann, in his desire to define the particularly "human", implicitly and unjustly diminishes the uniqueness and complexity of other animal species. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.