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Article ID: CBB001220959

French Roots of French Neo-Lamarckisms, 1879--1985 (2011)

Loison, Laurent (Author)

Journal of the History of Biology
Volume: 44
Pages: 713--744

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Philosophy of biology Lamarckism Biology Philosophy of science Evolution Mechanism; mechanical philosophy Vitalism 20th century 19th century France

This essay attempts to describe the neo-Lamarckian atmosphere that was dominant in French biology for more than a century. Firstly, we demonstrate that there were not one but at least two French neo-Lamarckian traditions. This implies, therefore, that it is possible to propose a clear definition of a (neo)Lamarckian conception, and by using it, to distinguish these two traditions. We will see that these two conceptions were not dominant at the same time. The first French neo-Lamarckism (1879--1931) was structured by a very mechanic view of natural processes. The main representatives of this first period were scientists such as Alfred Giard (1846--1908), Gaston Bonnier (1853--1922) and Félix Le Dantec (1869--1917). The second Lamarckism -- much more vitalist in its inspiration -- started to develop under the supervision of people such as Albert Vandel (1894--1980) and Pierre-Paul Grassé (1895--1985). Secondly, this essay suggests that the philosophical inclinations of these neo-Lamarckisms reactivated a very ancient and strong dichotomy of French thought. One part of this dichotomy is a material, physicalist tradition, which started with René Descartes but developed extensively during the 18th and 19th centuries. The other is a spiritual and vitalist reaction to the first one, which also had a very long history, though it is most closely associated with the work of Henri Bergson. Through Claude Bernard, the first neo-Lamarckians tried to construct a mechanical and determinist form of evolutionary theory which was, in effect, a Cartesian theory. The second wave of neo-Lamarckians wanted to reconsider the autonomy and reactivity of life forms, in contrast to purely physical systems.

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