Origin of the Human Species

Dennis Bonnette is a Full Professor of Philosophy at Niagara University in Lewiston, New York. He lives in Youngstown, New York, with his wife, Lois. He is a former National Defense Education Act Fellow at the University of Notre Dame, from which he received his doctorate in Philosophy in 1970. He has been teaching Philosophy at the college level for 37 years. Dr. Bonnette has written one earlier book, Aquinas’ Proofs for God’s Existence, and many scholarly articles. He is a member of the American Philosophical Association, Scholars for Social Justice, and the American Catholic Philosophical Association. He is especially interested in using philosophical analysis to reconcile enigmas that appear to arise from the interface of natural science and divine revelation.

"At a time when scientism is the ruling attitude of most of the media, when solid scientific answers to questions about human origins are missing and materialistic philosophical speculations are dressed up in scientific garb, Origin of the Human Species cuts through much fog to address itself to basic philosophical questions. It will be an effective tool in teaching students about the follies of scientism." – Michael J. Behe, in: Fellowship of Catholic Scholars Quarterly, Vol. 24, No. 3 (Summer 2001)"This very thoroughly argued book is certainly a must for all libraries maintained by educational institutions." - in: Social Justice Review 29 (January/February 2002)"This interdisciplinary examination of human evolution incorporates philosophical, theological, and scientific perspectives." - in: Choice, Vol. 39, No. 3 (November ’01)"Dennis Bonnette’s radically interdisciplinary book breaks new ground … It offers a rigorously scholarly, scientifically accurate, philosophically and theologically sound response to all the major questions which evolutionary theory poses to traditional biblical interpretation. …a broad spectrum of major issues touching human uniqueness and human origins are explored with a completeness never before undertaken. …" - in: The Wanderer, Vol. 134, No. 31 (August 2, 2001)"Using the tools of philosophy, Professor Bonnette investigates the origin of true humanity. Along the way, he considers the questions of animal intelligence, the philosophical meaning of the species concept, Adam and Eve, and more. His demonstration that the standard human evolution story is compatible with Christianity makes his conclusion that the story itself may be shaky all the more impressive." – Michael J. Behe, author of Darwin’s Black Box

• ForewordAcknowledgmentsONE Darwinian Evolution Versus Scientific Creationism TWO The Concept of Natural Species THREE Philosophical Possibility of Inter-Specific Evolution FOUR Distinctions of Natural Species FIVE Significance of Recent Ape-Language StudiesSIX The Human Soul’s Spiritual Character and Divine OriginSEVEN The Question of Extraterrestrial LifeEIGHT The Metaphysical Structure of Natural Species NINE Natural Science and Theology TEN The Truths of RevelationELEVEN Locating the First True Humans: “Current Theory”TWELVE Adam and Eve’s OriginTHIRTEEN Genesis: 4,000 B.C. or 1,000,000 B.C.?FOURTEEN Human Evolution’s Extinction? EpilogueNotesBibliographyAbout the AuthorIndex