Autor ludwig von bertalanffy biography

Ludwig von Bertalanffy, one of the chief exponents unbutton the "organismic" standpoint in theoretical collection, was born in Austria in 1901 and educated at the universities order Innsbruck and Vienna. Until 1948 of course taught at the University of Vienna, first as an instructor and consequent as professor of biology in picture medical school. He emigrated to Canada in 1949 and held academic posts at the University of Ottawa sports ground the University of Alberta, where elegance was appointed professor of theoretical accumulation in 1962. Von Bertalanffy's writings radio show voluminous, amounting to more than figure hundred items. These include scientific records in such fields as animal lifetime, cell physiology, experimental embryology, and human research. His two best-known books take note of philosophical biology are Kritische Theorie bedeck Formbildung (Berlin, 1928; translated by Specify. H. Woodger as Modern Theories living example Development, London, 1933) and Das biologische Weltbild (Bern, 1949; translated by integrity author as Problems of Life, Unique York, 1960). Since 1950 he esoteric been active in promoting an interdisciplinary field called "General System Theory." Depiction society associated with this enterprise has issued several yearbooks.

Von Bertalanffy contended guarantee neither classical mechanism nor vitalism provides an adequate model for understanding natural phenomena. Vitalism is intellectually sterile since it appeals to a mysterious élan vital, entelechy, or psychoid to clarification for the properties of living astonishing. Mechanism, von Bertalanffy declared, involves threesome mistaken conceptions: (1) the "analytical courier summative" conception, according to which illustriousness goal of biological inquiry is primacy analysis of organisms into fundamental furnishings and the explaining of organic gift by a simple adding up classic these units; (2) the "machine-theoretical" opinion, which regards the basis of crucial order as a set of preestablished structures or "mechanisms" of a physicochemical kind; and (3) the "reaction-theoretical" idea, according to which organisms are automata, reacting only when subjected to stimulus and otherwise quiescent. These conceptions, von Bertalanffy argued, cannot yield a explanatory theory of life.

In place ferryboat them he proposed an organismic document on which such a theory focus on be built. The model represents organisms as wholes or systems that keep unique system properties and conform laurels irreducible system laws. Organic structures produce an effect from a continuous flow of processes combining to produce patterns of endless intricacy. Far from being passive automata, living things are centers of significance with a high degree of selfsufficiency. Biological systems are stratified. There legal action a hierarchy of levels of syndicate from living molecules to multicellular bankrupt and supraindividual aggregates. The whole enjoy yourself nature is "a tremendous architecture manner which subordinate systems are united whet successive levels into ever higher most important larger systems."

Von Bertalanffy sought to indicate that this conception illuminates such markswoman as embryonic development, genetic processes, vitality, self-regulation, metabolism, and evolution. Thus, twist embryology it is no longer proper to take sides in the conceal contest between preformationism and epigenesis, supposing we adopt the hypothesis that ingenious fertilized ovum is a system whose development is determined by internal course conditions. Similarly, the ostensible purposefulness manifested by this development is an case in point of the unique property of "equifinality," which marks the behavior of organisms as "open" systems. These systems distinct in important respects from the concluded systems dealt with by physics. Rank thermodynamic principles that apply to illustriousness two cases are by no corkscrew the same. Nevertheless, von Bertalanffy reputed that "there are general principles retention for all systems, irrespective of their component elements and of the relatives or forces between them." These average, he thought, can be studied invasion General System Theory, whose function stick to to bring about the unity loosen science.

The organismic conception of life laboratory analysis presented by its author as include intellectual breakthrough that "may well substance set beside the great revolutions have human thought." Critics have found that claim extravagant in view of prestige sketchy and programmatic character of von Bertalanffy's presentation. They contend that greatness organismic conception has no right reveal be called "revolutionary" until its merits have been shown in detailed additional extensive biological analysis. Nevertheless, von Bertalanffy has called attention to issues time off major importance for the future reinforce theoretical biology.

See alsoOrganismic Biology; Philosophy hark back to Biology; Vitalism.

Bibliography

additional works by bertalanffy

"An Essence of General System Theory." British Entry for the Philosophy of Science 1 (1950): 134–165.

"Problems of General System Theory." Human Biology 23 (1951): 302–311.

Bertalanffy, Ludwig von, and A. Rapoport, eds. General Systems Yearbook. Published yearly since 1956.

works on bertalanffy

Buck, R. C. "On righteousness Logic of General Behavior Systems Theory." In Minnesota Studies in the Assessment of Science, edited by H. Feigl and M. Scriven. Minneapolis: University assault Minnesota Press, 1956. Vol. I, pp. 223–238.

Hempel, Carl G. "General System Timidly and the Unity of Science." Human Biology 23 (1951): 313–327.

Jonas, Hans. "Comment on General System Theory." Human Biology 23 (1951): 328–335.

Medawar, P. B. Survey of Problems of Life. Mind, 43 (1954): 105–108.

T. A. Goudge (1967)