Das Zweckgesetz in der Natur: Grundlinien einer Metamechanik des Lebens

Abstract

THE present state of biological philosophy is un satisfactory. The prevailing opinion appears to be that the living thing must for the purposes of in vestigation be considered as a machine, and we find the most active progress in biological research taking place in the domain of biochemistry and biophysics. Most biologists would admit, however, that the materialistic conception is merely a working hypothesis and does not necessarily hold good for all the aspects and manifesta tions of life. A good example of the moderate point of view which is taken by many workers is afforded by Sir Charles Sherrington's presidential address to the British Association in 1922. While holding fast to the application of physical and chemical methods to physio logical problems as the only sound line of progress, he yet admits that certain phenomena of life, in particular the processes of development, have so far quite eluded explanation in physical terms.

Das Zweckgesetz in der Natur: Grundlinien einer Metamechanik des Lebens.

Von Prof. Adolf Wagner. Pp. 301. (Erlenbach-Zürich, München und Leipzig: Eugen Rentsch Verlag, 1923.) 5 gold marks.