THE DIVINE ANIMAL

Divine"" is such a dirty word in anthropological circles one suspects that Wescott is used to or rather enjoys the role of odd man out. And way out at that. In this completely speculative set of essays he has some interesting things to say about man as a creature of physical and cultural evolution, enlarging on such topics as pedomorphy and gerontomorphy--the tendency of an animal to be child-like or adult-like in characteristics. He discourses on the origins of language, mathematics, art, science, and religion; on the ego, the id, the superego, and the ""super-id."" All man's cultural achievements and psychical aspects are thrown into his mixed brew and view of life. His tendency toward extended etymologies and neologisms leads to a diffuse style which makes the reader wonder where he's going and whether there is even a thread of logic along the road. When he ends up with flying saucers as possible extraterrestrials or subterraneans who have domesticated man, and ponders the development of ""orgone"" senses, one wonders whether he can really be serious. UFO- logically speaking, he apparently is. Sensitives take notice.