Sir John Lubbock was born in 1834 in London, England. It is no doubt that Lubbock came from a well-educated family. His father, Sir John William Lubbock, was an astronomer and mathematician. He made contributions in the field of probability theory as it related to life insurance problems. He also studied the tides and the planets, and much of the knowledge we have today about them we can attribute to him.
His son, John Lubbock was a renowned archaeologist, biologist and politician. His life has had profound effects in the political and scientific realms. He was a member of parliament from 1870, where he introduced many reform bills. The most outstanding bill was the introduction of bank holidays as we know them today. To some, these holidays became known as St. Lubbock Days.
Lubbock’s scientific contributions were in entomology and anthropology. His anthropological work was on human prehistory in Europe and his entomological interests were on social insects. He wrote three books, the most profound being Prehistoric Times, written in 1865. This book was used as a textbook in several languages for many years. Lubbock also wrote Ants, Bees, and Wasps (1882), and The Pleasures of Life (1887-1889).
Sir Lubbock also collaborated on a number of essays. Among these is Tact, a unique essay with lessons on life. In the essay, he tells us to win every person we come in contact with, to try to meet the desires of everyone, but to not be afraid to say no. He also tells us not to assume that every person is a friend, just because they tell us so. Lubbock also stated do not assume that anyone is an enemy either. Lubbock goes on to tell us to not expect to be heard much when we are young; rather we should sit and listen. The entire essay is full of ideas such as these.
Sir John Lubbock was a wise and tenderhearted man. His works and ideas have had profound effects on education through his scientific discoveries and through the textbooks that he wrote. He has also challenged people to better themselves and to help better society. His life was a constant search for more knowledge. In his words, “A wise system of education will at least teach us how little man yet knows, how much he has still to learn.” (Brainy Quotes).
Sources
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/john_lubbock.html
“Lubbock, Sir John.” The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, 2001. http://www.bartleby.com/65/lu/LubbockJ.html >April 8, 2001
“Tact, by Sir John Lubbock.” Essays: Picked by Blupete. http://www.blupete.com/Literature/Essays/Best/LubbockTact.htm>April 8, 2001
Written by Students in an Introduction to Anthropology Class, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Minnesota 2003