Buffon's Natural History. Volume 04 (of 10): Containing a Theory of the Earth, a General History of Man, of the Brute Creation, and of Vegetables, Minerals, &c. &c

In Short

This book is a wide-ranging eighteenth-century scientific treatise that catalogs the physical development, sensory perceptions, and global variations of the human species. It tracks the human arc from the vulnerability of infancy to the inevitability of old age and death. By blending anatomical observation with ethnographic reporting, it attempts to map the biological and environmental forces that shape humanity. The work remains significant as a seminal effort to categorize the natural world and articulate a theory of human unity against a backdrop of colonial-era travelogues and Enlightenment inquiry.

The Story

The narrative begins with an intimate focus on the human lifecycle, specifically the physical and social conditions of infancy. The author examines the necessity of care and the various methods—from the use of worm-gnawed wood dust in North America to the wooden planks of Virginia—employed by different cultures to nurture the newborn. This focus on the body’s earliest stages serves as a foundation for understanding human fragility.

The account then shifts to the onset of puberty, where the author moves from the biological to the sociological. Here, the text details ancient and diverse customs like circumcision, discussing their varying practices across Asia and Africa. The author does not shy away from moral commentary, sharply criticizing practices like infibulation and castration as products of jealousy and superstitious frenzy. This exploration of the body’s transformation leads into a broader discussion of how different societies perceive and manipulate the markers of maturity and beauty, such as the shaping of the skull or the coloring of teeth, arguing that these aesthetics are often matters of habit rather than objective perfection.

As the physical analysis deepens, the focus turns to the mechanics of the senses—sight, hearing, and touch. The author meticulously describes the eye’s anatomy and the role of the eyelids, offering personal observations on short-sightedness and the physiological expression of human emotions like grief or terror. The narrative then expands to consider the human species on a global scale. Through a series of detailed geographical descriptions, the author catalogs the physical characteristics of people across continents—from the "tawny" inhabitants of Java to the distinct features of the Laplanders and the diverse peoples of the Americas.

The arc culminates in a sweeping argument regarding the nature of humanity itself. Confronting the vast array of global appearances and customs, the author rejects the idea of multiple human species. Instead, he posits that humanity represents a single, original stock, transformed over time by climate, diet, and environment. The text suggests that just as horses imported to new lands gradually adapt to their surroundings, human varieties have been shaped by long-term environmental influence. The narrative concludes with the philosophical assertion that death is not the terrifying specter of popular imagination but a natural, painless conclusion to a life lived in accordance with the slow, inevitable processes of the natural world.

How It Unfolds

The biological foundation The volume opens by documenting the physical realities of infancy, detailing how newborns are managed across disparate cultures. It emphasizes the child’s absolute dependence and the necessity of external care for survival.

The passage into maturity The text moves to the ritualistic and physical changes of puberty, exploring varied traditions of circumcision and bodily modification. It frames these customs within a critical analysis of human jealousy and societal control.

The anatomy of perception The author provides a detailed breakdown of the senses, focusing on the eye and ear. He combines anatomical description with personal anecdote to explain how we perceive the world.

The global tapestry The narrative traverses the globe, describing the physical features and social behaviors of peoples from the Arctic to the equator. It uses these accounts to highlight the extreme range of human variation.

A unified conclusion The book reconciles these differences by proposing an environmental theory of human variety. It argues that all people belong to a single species, modified only by the long-term influence of their surroundings.

The People

The central figure is the author himself, who serves as both a detached observer and a subjective participant. He is a man of the Enlightenment, deeply interested in the "why" of human nature, who frequently inserts his own experiences—such as his nearsightedness—into his broader scientific inquiries. He acts as a mediator between the raw, sometimes contradictory reports of travelers and the rigorous, systemic demands of natural history.

He is countered by the various "savages" and remote populations described in the book. These groups are not presented as individuals, but as subjects of study whose lives reflect the "rudeness of manners" or the "chimerical prejudices" the author seeks to analyze. While he respects their ingenuity in surviving harsh climates, he often views their customs through the lens of European standards, framing their practices as primitive adaptations.

Finally, the reader emerges as a crucial participant. The author speaks directly to this audience, challenging them to abandon "unjust and idle suspicions" about human behavior and to look past the "spectre" of death. By the end, the reader is invited to shed their own cultural biases and view humanity as a singular, fluctuating entity, leaving behind the comforting but false belief in static, distinct human races.

In Its Own Voice

"Infants, when newly born, sleep much, though with frequent interruptions."

The author begins his study by noting the basic, rhythmic requirements of human infancy.

"Circumcision may have been founded on necessity, yet infibulation and castration could never have taken place but from jealousy, or from some gloomy and superstitious frenzy."

The author critiques cultural practices that he views as products of human malice rather than biological utility.

"Every nation, and every individual, has a peculiar prejudice, or taste, with respect to beauty, which probably originates from some pleasing impression received in infancy."

The author argues that our deepest aesthetic preferences are rooted more in childhood habit than in universal truth.

What It's Really About

The central concern is the tension between human unity and the striking diversity of the global population. The author grapples with the question of whether our differences—in appearance, health, and custom—are inherent or acquired. By tracing the impact of the environment on the body, the book argues that humanity is fluid and reactive. It seeks to demystify the human experience by removing it from the realm of the supernatural or the static, placing it firmly within the framework of natural law. Ultimately, it questions the validity of human "prejudice" and "jealousy," viewing these as irrational barriers to understanding our shared biological reality.

Why Read It Today

Reading this volume is an exercise in engaging with the intellectual boldness of the eighteenth century. You will encounter a mind attempting to organize the entire world into a coherent system, a task that feels both heroic and inevitably limited by the biases of its era. Modern readers will find the author’s environmental theory of human variation—the idea that people adapt to their climates—to be an early, if primitive, precursor to evolutionary thought.

However, one must be prepared for the period-specific attitudes that permeate the text. The author’s descriptions of "savages" and his Eurocentric tone reflect the colonial perspective of his time, which can be jarring to a contemporary sensibility. The length and the dense, clinical prose can also be challenging, as the book moves through pages of granular anatomical data and sometimes repetitive ethnographic accounts.

Despite these difficulties, the book rewards the patient reader with a glimpse into the Enlightenment’s fascination with the self. It feels like stepping into a vast, dusty cabinet of curiosities where the author is determined to find a pattern in the chaos of humanity. What stays with you is the author’s persistent, almost defiant, attempt to find reason in the face of death and difference, asserting a common human thread that persists even when the world seems most divided.