Mark Twain Ethos In The Damned Human Race

Mark Twain’s Theory of Devolution

While writing Pudd’nhead Wilson, Mark Twain penned, “If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man” (quote73). This would have fit nicely in Twain’s The Damned Human Race, in which Darwinism is quickly dismissed, and Twain introduces his new theory titled, “the Descent of Man from the Higher Animals” (par.1). Twain’s use of circular reasoning and broad generalizations about the nature of humanity failed to prove that they are the lowest of animals; but rather proves humanity having a unique quality in moral sense.

Twain introduces ethos and pathos, respectively, in the first paragraph. Twain stated that he studied man and

Twain then introduces what he sees as the root problem with man, our biggest flaw, being moral sense. “Without it, man could do no wrong. He would rise at once to the level of the Higher Animals” (par.24). In his example involving religion, Twain mentions some of the history and death surrounding it. He concludes this thought placing man in a false dilemma, stating “he has been at it ever since he saw the first light, he is at it today in Crete, and he will be at it somewhere else tomorrow” (par.19). Mankind is placed in yet another, broader false dilemma, from which there is no alternative. In his theory, this dilemma began when humans devolved from the cat, and became conscious. Being inflicted, mankind has no options but to do evil. Twain continues with mankind’s inescapable dilemma in that moral sense is a curse and good for none, with consciousness required to do evil (par.25). The devolution of man is then summarized with its pinnacle state being the unconscious atom, to our lowest conscious modern state of humanity; “below us, nothing”