Meaning of "demand"

[Cooliegirly]

What does this second sentence mean?

"It was no accident that nineteenth-century naturalist Charles Darwin strove to connect the mentality and emotionality of people with that of dogs, rather than, say, line doves or horses. Neither his theory of evolution nor any general understanding of biology demanded that he preferentially underline our similarity to dogs over other species. But politically and emotionally, the choice was inevitable for an English gentleman who had set himself palatable."

[Jan]

[Yankee]

Hi

I think Jan has the right idea.

There was nothing in Darwin's theory or in science (biology) in general that made it necessary to compare people only or mainly with dogs. Darwin apparently had other "non-scientific" reasons.

Amy

[Jan]

[Tom]

[Yankee]

.
I understand that to mean "rather than" (indicating that something was given preference).

In other words, "Darwin stressed our similarity to dogs rather than our similarity to other species".

[Cooliegirly]

Is it possible to say that he "perferentially underlined our similarity to dogs" which neither his theory nor any general understanding of biology demanded him to do so?

[Jan]

[Yankee]

Hi cooliegirly

Two options with slight changes:

He "perferentially underlined our similarity to dogs" although neither his theory nor any general understanding of biology demanded (that) he do so.

- OR -

He "perferentially underlined our similarity to dogs" although neither his theory nor any general understanding of biology required him to do so.

Amy

PS
Hi Cap'n Jan.

[Cooliegirly]