Biology, History, and Natural Philosophy

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiv

   PDF

2. The Autonomy of Biology as a Natural Science

   • Francisco J. Ayala

   Pages 1-16

3. The Model of Open Systems: Beyond Molecular Biology

   • Ludwig von Bertalanffy

   Pages 17-30

4. Electronic Mobility in Biological Processes

   • Albert Szent-Györgyi

   Pages 31-36

5. The Evolution and Organization of Sentient Biological Behavior Systems

   • Jay Boyd Best

   Pages 37-78

6. The Evolutionary Significance of Biological Templates

   • George Ledyard Stebbins

   Pages 79-102

7. Evolutionary Modulation of Ribosomal RNA Synthesis in Oogenesis and Early Embryonic Development

   • Ronald R. Cowden

   Pages 103-109

8. Respiration as Interface Between Self and Non-Self: Historico-Biological Perspectives

   • Constantine J. Falliers

   Pages 111-121

9. Measurement Theory and Biology

   • Martin A. Garstens

   Pages 123-133

10. The Transition from Theoretical Physics into Theoretical Biology

    • Walter M. Elsasser

    Pages 135-163

11. Scientific Enterprises from a Biological Point of View

    • Hȧkan Törnebohm

    Pages 165-169

12. Historical Observations Concerning the Relationship Between Biology and Mathematics

    • René Taton

    Pages 171-180

13. A Survey of the Mechanical Interpretations of Life from the Greek Atomists to the Followers of Descartes

    • Mirko D. Grmek

    Pages 181-195

14. The Place of Normative Ethics Within a Biological Framework

    • Arne Naess

    Pages 197-206

15. The Evolutionary Thought of Teilhard de Chardin

    • Francisco J. Ayala

    Pages 207-216

16. The Use of Biological Concepts in the Writing of History

    • Allen D. Breck

    Pages 217-232

17. What is a Historical System?

    • Hayden V. White

    Pages 233-242

18. On a Difference Between the Natural Sciences and History

    • Stephan Körner

    Pages 243-250

19. Historical Taxonomy

    • Robert E. Roeder

    Pages 251-261

20. Theories of the Universe in the Late Eighteenth Century

    • Harry Woolf

    Pages 263-289

In a world that peers over the brink of disaster more often than not it is difficult to find specific assignments for the scholarly community. One speaks of peace and brotherhood only to realize that for many the only real hope of making a contribution may seem to be in a field of scientific specialization seemingly irrelevant to social causes and problems. Yet the history of man since the beginnings of science in the days of the Greeks does not support this gloomy thesis. Time and again we have seen science precipitate social trends or changes in the humanistic beliefs that have a significant effect on the scientific community. Not infrequently the theoretical scientist, triggered by society's changing goals and understandings, finds ultimate satisfaction in the work of his colleagues in engineering and the other applied fields. Thus the major debate in mid-nineteenth century in which the evidence of natural history and geology at variance with the Biblical feats provided not only courage to a timid Darwin but the kind of audience that was needed to fit his theories into the broad public dialogue on these topics. The impact of "Darwinism" was felt far beyond the scientific community. It affected social thought, upset religious certainties and greatly affected the teaching of science.

• biology
• natural philosophy
• philosophy
• science
• society

• University of Denver, Denver, USA

  Allen D. Breck, Wolfgang Yourgrau

Policies and ethics