DISCUSSION 125 



prove man to be connected with beasts. This is a 

 correct assertion ; for the present at any rate we 

 cannot speak of any definite proof and we must 

 proceed in another way. Let us say : there are 

 two possibilities Either man is genetically con 

 nected with the animal world, or he is not; there 

 is no third alternative. We have to decide in 

 favour of one or other of these possibilities, and, I 

 ask you, which of them is the more probable from the 

 scientific point of view ? I think there can be no 

 doubt on the subject. Father Wasmann has pointed 

 out the differences between man and beast, but he 

 has not laid sufficient stress on the great similarities 

 existing between them. The differences are in 

 every respect mere trifles in comparison with the 

 marked resemblances. 



All who heard or have read my third lecture 

 will remember that I laid stress on the re 

 semblances and said : It will occur to no 

 scientist to deny that from them certain general 

 arguments in favour of man s descent from 

 beasts may be derived. Professor Dahl has 

 not proved that the differences which I em 

 phasised are in every respect mere trifles in 

 comparison with the marked resemblances. 



Professor Dahl continued thus : We are not 

 bound to start from the scientific point of view ; 

 the theological standpoint will serve us equally well. 



