Vitalism and Its Legacy in Twentieth Century Life Sciences and Philosophy

This book explores alternatives to mechanism and mechanistic explanation in biology, focusing on the 19th century to the present. It discusses vitalism, organicism, and responses to materialism, promoting dialogue and discussion about their historical and philosophical importance. It also highlights the integration of genomic science into the broader history of biology and discusses important threads in the history of concepts in the US and Europe.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 269 pages
Publication date: 03 January 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This expansive Open Access book delves into a comprehensive philosophical and historical examination of diverse alternatives to mechanism and mechanistic explanation, with a particular focus on the 19th century to the present. It explores vitalism, organicism, and responses to materialism, shedding light on their relevance to contemporary biological science. By fostering dialogue and discussion, the book aims to highlight the historical and philosophical significance of vitalism and other non-mechanistic conceptions of life. It also points towards the integration of genomic science into the broader history of biology. Spanning a wide range of vitalisms and perspectives on life from the 19th to the 21st centuries, the book engages with a diverse array of thinkers and movements. Additionally, it delves into significant threads in the history of concepts in the United States and Europe, charting new reception histories in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. While vitalism, organicism, and related epistemologies typically captivate experts in the history and philosophy of biology and historians of ideas, the volume's wide-ranging contributions and geographical and temporal scope make it accessible to historians of science and biology enthusiasts alike.

Weight: 433g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031126062
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023