Article ID: CBB000933658

Spontaneous versus Equivocal Generation in Early Modern Science (2005)

unapi

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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Authors & Contributors
Smith, Justin E. H.
Blank, Andreas
Michael Marshall
Roosth, Sophia
Rusu, Doina-Cristina
Roggen, Vibeke
Concepts
Biogenesis; origin of life; spontaneous generation
Biology
Development; growth; life; death
Epigenesis
Natural philosophy
Zoology
Time Periods
17th century
18th century
16th century
21st century
Enlightenment
20th century, late
Places
Japan
Italy
France
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