Page 32 - THE SLOUGHI REVIEW - ISSUE 13

T H E S L O U G H I R E V I E W 3 2

Darwin's theory of evolution is therefore concerned with “natural selection”, the constant
“struggle for life”, the “survival of the fittest” and so on, following a strict, linear idea of the
development of plants and animals. The theory of evolution allows straight-line
structures such as the idea of the family tree to develop from this or develops them
further. However, the divine providence, the teleology, which had been valid until then, is
refuted by Darwin's selection theory.

However, on the basis of Darwinian selection theory, natural selection, human selection
has taken the place of divine providence. “Teleology” has thus re-entered our modern
world through the back door, only that it is not God who sets up the world, but man in his
imperfection.

Like the line breeding of dogs according to the FCI standard and other such sorting
machines. There, the question of ears and coat colour and structure, conformation etc.
become the decisive criteria. Through the will of man, the wild animal becomes a
domestic animal that follows certain functions according to plan from the very beginning,
in the twinkling of an eye, so to speak. However, a will to form first involves the mental
work of deciding what content and form should have as a result in the end. “Form follows
function”, so to speak. That is the modern concept of industrialisation. But was this really

a given from the very beginning? Certainly not!

In the search for the progenitor of the dog, Buffon, Studer (“canis ferus”) or Mike Fox,
who spoke of an “Urdingo”, suspected the canid ancestors possibly occurring in the last
Ice Age. At this time, one assumes, the dog was domesticated (E. Zimen). Juliet Clutton-
Brock assumed four geographical races of wolves.

But even for Darwin, the question of the progenitor of domestic animals was a cardinal
problem. Although he succeeded in proving that domestic ducks, rabbits and pigeons
were each descended from a single species, this was not the case with dogs. Let's take a
look at a few examples of how intermediate states from wild animal to wild animal, to
semi-wild animal, to semi-wild domestic animal (?), to independent domestic animal, to
dependent domestic animal ... etc. actually developed.

And where in this series is the Sloughi to be found?