Article ID: CBB000770690

Mechanism, Vitalism and Organicism in Late Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Biology: The Importance of Historical Context (2005)

unapi

Allen, Garland E. (Author)


Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Volume: 36
Pages: 261--283


Publication Date: 2005
Edition Details: Part of a special issue: “Mechanisms in Biology”
Language: English

The term `mechanism' has been used in two quite different ways in the history of biology. Operative, or explanatory mechanism refers to the step-by-step description or explanation of how components in a system interact to yield a particular outcome (as in the `mechanism of enzyme action' or the `mechanism of synaptic transmission'). Philosophical Mechanism, on the other hand, refers to a broad view of organisms as material entities, functioning in ways similar to machines --- that is, carrying out a variety of activities based on known chemical and physical processes. In the early twentieth century philosophical Mechanism became the foundation of a `new biology' that sought to establish the life sciences on the same solid and rigorous foundation as the physical sciences, including a strong emphasis on experimentation. In the context of the times this campaign was particularly aimed at combating the reintroduction of more holistic, non-mechanical approaches into the life sciences (organicism, vitalism). In so doing, Mechanists failed to see some of the strong points of non-vitalistic holistic thinking. The two approaches are illustrated in the work of Jacques Loeb and Hans Spemann.

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Article Craver, Carl F.; Darden, Lindley (2005) Introduction. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (p. 233). unapi

Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB000770690/

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Authors & Contributors
Wolfe, Charles T.
Peterson, Erik L.
Donohue, Christopher R.
Riskin, Jessica
Steigerwald, Joan
Normandin, Sebastian
Concepts
Biology
Vitalism
Mechanism; mechanical philosophy
Organicism
Epigenetics
Historiography
Time Periods
19th century
20th century
18th century
20th century, early
17th century
Early modern
Places
Germany
Europe
Naples (Italy)
Cambridge (England)
Italy
France
Institutions
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institut für Biologie, Berlin
Stazione Zoologica di Napoli
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