Little Shop of Knowledge

Part Two: Experimentation with Living Beings.

 

Chapter I: Experimental Considerations common to Living Things and Inorganic Bodies.

 

Proposition: Prove science of vital phenomena = science of phenomena of Inorganic Bodies.

 

I. Spontenaity of living beings as an objection to the use of experimentation in biology.Vialistic Ideas: “Obstacle in the progress of experimental science”Cuvier Physiology = Science of Observation What is “biological science” according to Bernard? Proposition: Prove science of vital phenomena = science of phenomena of Inorganic Bodies. Determinism exists for all bodies. II. What is free will? Physiologists= Vitalists

 

Debate: Living organisms of a higher complex kind are spontaneous due to the inner vital force they posses vs. they are “the necessary results of conditions or of the physical-chemical influences of a surrounding environment”. Warm blooded, complex, or a higher kind, animals seem to be independent. “External inflluences bring changes only as protectice system of organism’s internal environment be insufficient.” Inorganic bodies are within and external cosmic environment while organic bodies are subject to this same external environment but also to their internal environment. Experimenter learns conditions of phenomenon --> He becomes master.

 

Physiology: The science whose object it is to study the phenomena of living beings and to determine the material conditions in which they appear. First causes (outside the realm) of science.Phenomena: Results of relations.Scientific Law à Provides numerical relation. Object of science: to learn the material conditions of phenomena.

 

“In identical conditions, all phenomena are identical”.

 

“Only through experimentation can we attain knowledge of the conditions which fovern these phenomena and so enable us to master them.”