It is highly probable that the ability to distinguish between living and nonliving objects was already well developed in early prehuman animals. Cognizance of the difference between these two classes of objects, long a part of human knowledge, led naturally to the division of science into two categories: physics and chemistry on the one hand and biology on the other. So deep was this belief in the separateness of physics and biology that, as late as the early nineteenth century, many biologists still believed in vitalism, according to which living phenomena fall outside the confines of the laws of physics. It was not until the middle of the nineteenth century that Carl Ludwig, Hermann von Helmholz, Emil DuBois-Reymond, and Ernst von Briicke inaugurated a physicochem ical approach to physiology in which it was recognized clearly that one set of laws must govern the properties and behavior of all matter, living and nonliving . . The task of a biologist is like trying to solve a gigantic multidimensional crossword fill in the right physical concepts at the right places. The biologist depends on puzzle: to the maturation of the science of physics much as the crossword solver depends on a large and correct vocabulary. The solver of crossword puzzles needs not just a good vocabulary but a special vocabulary. Words like inee and oke are vitally useful to him but are not part of the vocabulary of an English professor.

Keywords

Authors and Affiliations

Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, USA

Gilbert N. Ling

Bibliographic Information

Book Title: In Search of the Physical Basis of Life
Authors: Gilbert N. Ling
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2667-0
Publisher: Springer New York, NY
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive
Softcover ISBN: 978-1-4612-9661-4Published: 04 October 2011
eBook ISBN: 978-1-4613-2667-0Published: 06 December 2012
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XXX, 792
Topics: Tree Biology

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Authors:

Sections

Buy it now

Buying options

Other ways to access

Table of contents (20 chapters)

Front Matter

Opposing Concepts in Cell Physiology: History and Background

Front Matter

The Association—Induction Hypothesis

Front Matter

Applications of the Association— Induction Hypothesis to Traditional Problems in Cell Physiology

Front Matter

A Reevaluation of Current Concepts in Physiology and Biochemistry

Front Matter

About this book

Keywords

Authors and Affiliations

Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, USA

Bibliographic Information

Publish with us

Buy it now

Buying options

Other ways to access

Search

Navigation