Patterns of thought about human place in nature and organic evolution are
discussed. Basic reasons for placing humans among mammals rather than considering
them biologically exceptional are given. The historical origin of the, still currently
used, taxonomy of living things that classifies them into distinct static categories is
discussed as an impediment to the understanding of the variable and dynamic nature of
life. This dynamic nature of life producing variable organisms in every generation
makes evolution an inevitable process commonly occurring today same as it has
occurred in the past.
Keywords: Aristotle, Darwin, Mars, Platonists, Schiaparelli, Socrates,
Taxonomic system.
