EncyclopediaMonboddo, James Burnett, Lord
Monboddo, James Burnett, Lord, 1714–99, English writer, b. Scotland. A pioneer in anthropology, he wrote Of the Origin and Progress of Language (6 vol., 1774–92), in which he anticipated Darwin and much of modern evolutionary theory. His Antient Metaphysics (6 vol., 1779–99) is a defense of Greek philosophy.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
