A distinction not often heeded by historians of science between spontaneous generation and so-called equivocal generation (generatio aequivoca) is essential to an understanding of 17th and 18th century theories of generation. Equivocal generation was almost universally rejected, but some sort of spontaneous generation at least of the first life forms whether in one step or in a series of stages is an almost inevitable part of any materialist system. And thus many scientists in the early modern period believed that spontaneous generation could be unequivocal. I shall offer some clarification of the distinction using a number of examples from the 17th and 18th centuries.
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Mefisto: Rivista di medicina, filosofia, storia
Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Science in Context
Perspectives on Science
Kwartalnik Historii Nauki i Techniki
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