El descubrimiento europeo de los póngidos y sus repercusiones en la filosofía ilustrada

Abstract

Oíd justifications of social dottiination were systeniatically challenged by English, French and Germán thinkers during the Enlightennient. Although that order was destroyed by the French Revolution, the justification of natural social hierarchies postulated since Aristotle was still active. What does it mean to be human in reference to apes? Buffon's work ~empnasizes"tne 'iuSiu'rbmg proxiriúty' vinven apes andhumans. His conclusión is that human beings are equal, beyond racial differences. The latter is an argument that most readers would notexpect in a traditional naturalist considered to be a racist.