Elaine Morgan
M.A.(Oxon.), FLS, FRSL, OBE
The Aquatic
Ape Theory
"An aquatic ape is a likely ancestor of humans in terms of primate behaviour, marine
ecosystems and geographical timing.” -
"All other theories about the origin of our species have reached an impasse.” -
"I have been convinced of the aquatic theory since the beginning."-
"For my money, she is more scientific than Genesis, more up to date than Darwin,
more fun than Ardrey, and she writes better than Desmond Morris." -
"[AAT] conforms to current theories of speciation better than the savannah origins
model, and accounts for a number of diverse phenomena hitherto not seen as connected."
-
"It has to be admitted that the new theory has stimulated a thorough reconsideration
of what we believe we know, to investigate new facts, and to acquire new knowledge."
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"It is difficult to see how all the points assembled to back the Aquatic Theory can
be explained away. -
"An aquatic hypothesis offers far simpler explanations." -
"The 'aquatic ape' hypothesis has come of age.... [Elaine Morgan] provides a wealth
of meticulously researched findings, detailed hypotheses and still controversial
solutions in areas where others have volunteered nothing at all. The cost of conceding
to Morgan would be a palaeological crisis as profound as that of the earth scientists
when adjusting to the equally 'impossible' idea of floating continents." -
"It says much for Elaine Morgan's skill as a writer that my views about her latest
book and what she was trying to achieve by writing it changed completely while I
was reading it... deserves to be read seriously... no one can deny that she has marshalled
her material clearly and economically and made good use of it."-
"We believe that this proposal [AAT] should be taken seriously.” -
Some Opinions on AAT