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He who understands baboon would do more towards metaphysics than Locke.
Charles Darwin
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Understanding animal behavior can provide deep insights into human nature and philosophical concepts.

Darwin's quote suggests that a deep comprehension of the natural world, particularly the behavior of animals like baboons, holds greater significance for understanding the complexities of human thought and existence than some philosophical works. It emphasizes the importance of observing nature and our closest relatives to gain insight into fundamental questions about life and consciousness.

Themes

PhilosophyUnderstandingMetaphysicsNatureBehavior

In practice

Example use cases

In a lecture about animal behavior, this quote could illustrate the importance of understanding our evolutionary history.

More from Charles Darwin

Everything in nature is the result of fixed laws.
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The highest possible stage in moral culture is when we recognize that we ought to control our thoughts.
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I am quite conscious that my speculations run beyond the bounds of true science....It is a mere rag of an hypothesis with as many flaw[s] & holes as sound parts.
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We cannot fathom the marvelous complexity of an organic being; but on the hypothesis here advanced this complexity is much increased. Each living creature must be looked at as a microcosm--a little universe, formed of a host of self-propagating organisms, inconceivably minute and as numerous as the stars in heaven.
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I have called this principle, by which each slight variation, if useful, is preserved, by the term of Natural Selection.
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we are always slow in admitting any great change of which we do not see the intermediate steps
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