Anthropologist, born in London, UK. He studied at London, Florence, and Columbia universities, held posts at the Wellcome History Museum in London, New York University, Hahnemann Medical College, PA, and Rutgers University, NJ (194955). Throughout his work on human biosocial evolution, he had argued strongly against the view that cultural phenomena are genetically determined. Best known as the author of UNESCO's Statement on Race (1950), his many publications include The Elephant Man (1971) and Growing Young (1981).
Ashley Montagu (June 28, 1905, London, England - November 26, 1999, Princeton, New Jersey), was an English anthropologist and humanist who popularized issues such as race and gender and their relation to politics and development.
Montagu was born in London's East End as Israel Ehrenberg. He later changed his name to "Montague Francis Ashley-Montagu" and went by "Ashley Montagu" after moving to the United States. He pursued post-graduate work at Columbia University, where he produced a dissertation in 1938 entitled Coming into being among the Australian Aborigines: A study of the procreative beliefs of the native tribes of Australia which was directed by Franz Boas and Ruth Benedict.
In the 1950s Montagu produced a series of works questioning the validity of race as a biological concept, including the UNESCO Statement on Race and his very well-known Man’s Most Dangerous Myth: The Fallacy of Race.
He retired from his academic career in 1955 and moved to Princeton, New Jersey to pursue his popular writing and public appearances.
Later in life, Montagu actively opposed genital modification and mutilation of children. In 1994, James Prescott, Ph.D., wrote and named in honor of Dr. Montagu, who was one of its original signers, the Ashley Montagu Resolution to End the Genital Mutilation of Children Worldwide: A Petition to the World Court, The Hague.
Montagu taught and lectured at Harvard, Princeton (where he chaired the Department of Anthropology), University of California, and New York University.
Books by Montagu
(list not complete)
Life Before Birth Touching: The Human Significance of The Skin 1971 On Being Human The Nature of Human Aggression The Natural Superiority of Women Growing Young Living and Loving The Peace of The World Man’s Most Dangerous Myth: The Fallacy of Race Human Evolution The Elephant Man Anthropology and Human Nature The Elephant Man: A Study in Human Dignity.Montagu wrote the Foreword and Bibliography of the 1955 edition (reprinted 2005) of Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution by Petr Kropotkin, and in 1956, he edited Toynbee and History: Critical Essays and Reviews, 1956 Cloth, Boston: Extending Horizons Books, Porter Sargent Publishers.
He is co-author with Floyd Matson of The Human Connection and The Dehumanization of Man.
Quotes
"Science has proof without any certainty. - in "Mutilated Humanity"Footage of Ashley Montagu
Footage of Ashley Montagu talking with Charlton Heston about his character in the movie appears as a bonus in the special DVD edition of The Omega Man.
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