ABSTRACT
Nowhere in his writings does Aristotle state explicitly whether he believes or disbelieves in the eternity of the human race. Under these circumstances state ments from which one could infer his opinion assume great importance. Platt, in his translation of De Generatione Animalium, comments on 762 b 28ff. in the following manner: "This is, I believe, the only passage from which we can gather anything about Aristotle's views on evolution. . . . It is clear that ... he had no objection to the gradual development of man from some lowly organism, but also that he wisely maintained an attitude of absolute agnosticism on the question." And he adds that the passage "appears to have strangely escaped the notice of modern writers on the subject, at least I have found no reference to it in any whom I have consulted." 1
