On the Riddle of Life

This book presents a historico-logical study of vitalism. It begins by uncovering previously unknown doctrines of vitalism from the history of scienceencompassing biological, physical, and social sciencesand then subjects these doctrines to a thorough logical analysis. Through this process, the book offers a unified conceptual framework to understand the major doctrines of vitalism in the history of science, ultimately relating vitalism to the question of life. Following the classical methodological approach endorsed by Immanuel Kant, nineteenth-century philosopher-scientists like Ernst Mach, and early-twentieth-century logical analysts, including logical empiricists, British analysts, pragmatists, Husserlian phenomenologists, and neo-Kantians, this work provides unconventional and valuable perspectives on vitalism and the riddle of life, appealing to a broad audience, including scientists, historians, and philosophers of science, particularly those from biological backgrounds.

Provides a thorough re-examination of H. Driesch's "Vitalism" Includes new information on formerly unknown histories of Vitalism Helps comprehend the major doctrines of vitalism in the history of science in order to relate vitalism to the question of the nature of life

Autorentext

Bohang Chen is an Associate Researcher from the School of Philosophy, Zhejiang Univerisity. He earned his PhD degree in philosophy from Ghent university. He specializes in history and logic of science and history of philosophy. He has published controversial but innovative articles on vitalism, Darwinism, logical empiricism, and related issues.

Inhalt

Chapter 1. Introduction: vitalism and the idea of a historico-logical study.- Chapter 2. Reconsider Hans Driesch's vitalism: new perspectives.- Chapter 3.- Vitalism and evolution.- Chapter 4. Vitalism and mind.- Chapter 5. Vitalism, heat, gravity, electricity, magnetism, and motion.- Chapter 6. Vitalism and chemistry.- Chapter 7. Vitalism and energy physics.- Chapter 8. Vitalism, thermodynamics, and statistical mechanics.- Chapter 9. Vitalism and quantum mechanics.- Chapter 10. Chronic vitalism: Lessons from the history of science.- Chapter 11. A critique of current philosophy of biology.- Chapter 12. Conclusion: On the riddle of life.