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# 2. The Human Being from the Evolutionary Perspective The anthropology of the body cannot be understood without evolutionary theory. Evolutionism is not just one theory, but a collection of them. Darwin's theory is one of the most influential. Evolutionism involves two fundamental principles:...

# 2. The Human Being from the Evolutionary Perspective The anthropology of the body cannot be understood without evolutionary theory. Evolutionism is not just one theory, but a collection of them. Darwin's theory is one of the most influential. Evolutionism involves two fundamental principles: * **Rejection of fixism:** The planet and its species are not static, but constantly changing. Many species have disappeared, and new ones emerge through processes of transformation. * **Uniformism:** To understand the past (and present), the same scientific laws must be applied. # Antecedents of Darwin: Lamarck Lamarck believed in an inner force within species that drives transformation. His theory suggested two laws: 1. **Morphological traits depend on the activity:** Traits evolve in response to the activity they perform. "Function creates the organ." 2. **Inherited characteristics:** Acquired characteristics can be passed down to offspring. # Darwin's Theory Darwin is not the originator of the idea of evolution; he systematized and refined the theory of natural selection. This theory, explained in *On the Origin of Species* (1859), emphasizes that living organisms are not active participants in their evolution. Instead, changes occur due to environmental factors and are retained if beneficial. This is in contrast to Lamarck's ideas. Darwin's theory was not applied directly to humans in *On the Origin of Species;* it was more fully developed later in *The Descent of Man* (1871).