Title |
French Roots of French Neo-Lamarckisms, 1879–1985
|
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Published in |
Journal of the History of Biology, July 2010
|
DOI | 10.1007/s10739-010-9240-x |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Laurent Loison |
Abstract |
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. |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
France | 1 | 5% |
Belgium | 1 | 5% |
Spain | 1 | 5% |
Greece | 1 | 5% |
United States | 1 | 5% |
Unknown | 17 | 77% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Researcher | 5 | 23% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 4 | 18% |
Other | 3 | 14% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 3 | 14% |
Student > Bachelor | 3 | 14% |
Other | 3 | 14% |
Unknown | 1 | 5% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 10 | 45% |
Philosophy | 4 | 18% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 3 | 14% |
Business, Management and Accounting | 1 | 5% |
Arts and Humanities | 1 | 5% |
Other | 2 | 9% |
Unknown | 1 | 5% |