Das System der Biologie in Forschung und Lehre Eine historisch-kritische Studie

Abstract

THE author discusses at great length some of the attempts that have been made to define the scope of biology, and to indicate the logical sub-divisions of the science. Starting with early workers tike Ray, he works on to A. P. De Candolle and Schleiden (of whose importance he is very appreciative), and thence to Haeckel and Spencer, Karl Pearson, and Burckhardt. This laborious historical survey, which must have cost the author much time and trouble, is interesting to those who care for such questions, but it seems to us to be robbed of some of its value by being overloaded and by a lack of perspective. Dr. Tschulok quotes classifications of the different departments of biology from a large number of text-books, some of which are rather humdrum performances, while others are by men who left a deep mark on the science, but had neither any particular interest in mapping out its subdivisions, nor any special aptitude for so doing.

Das System der Biologie in Forschung und Lehre. Eine historisch-kritische Studie.

By Dr. Phil. S. Tschulok, Zürich. Pp. x + 409. (Jena: Gustav Fischer, 1910.) Price 9 marks.