Evolution is a fact. It is the best explanation of what is known from observations. It's a theory as powerful as the theory of gravity.
Donald JohansonRead
When I realized, in 1978, that Lucy did represent a new species of human ancestor, and that I had an opportunity to name this new species, I realized this was a revolutionary step in understanding human origins.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects a pivotal moment in the understanding of human evolution through the discovery of a new species.
Donald Johanson expresses the profound realization he experienced when he identified Lucy as a new species of human ancestor. This discovery was not only groundbreaking in the field of paleoanthropology, but it also contributed significantly to the broader understanding of human origins, highlighting the importance of scientific inquiry and the impact of such revelations on our knowledge of humanity's evolutionary past.
Themes
EvolutionHuman OriginsDiscoverySciencePaleoanthropology
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture about human evolution, I would refer to this quote to emphasize the importance of breakthroughs in science.
More from Donald Johanson
All quotes →Where we are going as a species is a big question. Human evolution certainly hasn't stopped. Every time individuals produce a new zygote, there's a reshuffling and recombination of genes. And we don't know where all of that is going to take us.
Donald JohansonRead
And what I wanted to do was, I wanted to explore problems and areas where we didn't have answers. In fact, where we didn't even know the right questions to ask.
Donald JohansonRead
I think that many of my ideas are correct, but I'll bet you, before my death other discoveries will be made that will prompt me to alter various ideas I have about human evolution.
Donald JohansonRead
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