DOI Artikel:
Steensberg, Axel: [Rezension von: David Rindos, The origins of agriculture, an evolutionary perspective]
DOI Artikel:Congratulations
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49002#0134
128
REVIEWS
ronment. He states that agriculture was probably
under way for several thousand years.
His broad education with degrees in rural
sociology and botany and a doctoral thesis in an-
thropology from Cornell University form a firm
basis for him to criticise many of the most repu-
ted anthropologists of today. But he probably
underestimates early man’s comprehensive
knowledge of plants and animals and his capabili-
ty of inventing sophisticated methods for control-
ling them. Although we believe that man devel-
oped from animals his genetic heritage is quite
different from his nearest relatives. His ability to
interfere in natural selection is still increasing. He
has prolonged his own lifespan considerably; and
most recently he has learned to manipulate his
own genes. This was not anticipated by Darwin.
David Rindos’ book is thought provoking, al-
though recent progress in molecular biology will
probably soon make his findings out of date.
Axel Steensberg
Congratulations
Finally, in this issue, Grith Lerche and San-
dy Fenton wish to record their warm good
wishes to Axel Steensberg on his 80th birth-
day on the 1st of june 1986. We have had a
long, happy and stimulating kind of co-ope-
ration with him. He is never afraid or slow
to try something new. To work with him
leads to a continual sense of mental stretch-
ing, a sense of sharing in a fierce personal
discipline which never slackens. He asks a
lot from himself and expects a lot from his
audience, and those who respond benefit ac-
cordingly. He makes people think, he makes
them question knowledge that is passed on
in traditional text-book teaching ways. He
has often said himself: “Clean your black-
board; look with fresh eyes.” It is our hope
that this Journal which was his inspiration in
1966, has been able to live up to his stan-
dards; and we hope also that Axel will conti-
nue for long to produce fresh materiale at the
high standards of learning and intuition that
have characterised all his work.
REVIEWS
ronment. He states that agriculture was probably
under way for several thousand years.
His broad education with degrees in rural
sociology and botany and a doctoral thesis in an-
thropology from Cornell University form a firm
basis for him to criticise many of the most repu-
ted anthropologists of today. But he probably
underestimates early man’s comprehensive
knowledge of plants and animals and his capabili-
ty of inventing sophisticated methods for control-
ling them. Although we believe that man devel-
oped from animals his genetic heritage is quite
different from his nearest relatives. His ability to
interfere in natural selection is still increasing. He
has prolonged his own lifespan considerably; and
most recently he has learned to manipulate his
own genes. This was not anticipated by Darwin.
David Rindos’ book is thought provoking, al-
though recent progress in molecular biology will
probably soon make his findings out of date.
Axel Steensberg
Congratulations
Finally, in this issue, Grith Lerche and San-
dy Fenton wish to record their warm good
wishes to Axel Steensberg on his 80th birth-
day on the 1st of june 1986. We have had a
long, happy and stimulating kind of co-ope-
ration with him. He is never afraid or slow
to try something new. To work with him
leads to a continual sense of mental stretch-
ing, a sense of sharing in a fierce personal
discipline which never slackens. He asks a
lot from himself and expects a lot from his
audience, and those who respond benefit ac-
cordingly. He makes people think, he makes
them question knowledge that is passed on
in traditional text-book teaching ways. He
has often said himself: “Clean your black-
board; look with fresh eyes.” It is our hope
that this Journal which was his inspiration in
1966, has been able to live up to his stan-
dards; and we hope also that Axel will conti-
nue for long to produce fresh materiale at the
high standards of learning and intuition that
have characterised all his work.