Vitalism and the Origin of Biosocial Thought

在生物学、医学和人文科学的研究中， 科学家和医生一般分为两类 阵营：活力论者和唯物论者。 生机论者认为， 生活的现象需要一些独特的东西， 提供了感性、力量、功能、组织、“活力”， 和谐与整合的关系。 唯物主义者认为， 生命现象最终可以完全用 物理和化学的标准定律。 像所有 这种试图将科学家和医生 分成两个不同的阵营过于简化了非常复杂的问题， 这些概括也可以作为一个有用的启发， 科学家的科学目标。 在生物学史上，活力论者和 唯物主义者，有几个经典的对抗。 的 最著名的是世纪的路易斯·巴斯德。 另一 在18世纪是一个英国耶稣会士， 李约瑟和一位意大利神父，阿贝拉扎罗·斯帕兰扎尼。 的 争论一直持续到现在。 每次问题似乎都是 然而，在决定支持唯物主义者的时候， 带着新的论点和实验回来， 他们的想法 威廉姆斯博士，在这项研究资助下， 现代活力主义理论的发展 法国南部和蒙彼利埃活力主义的影响 1850年的生物社会学思想。 蒙彼利埃是一个古老的 和著名的医学院和唯一的学术社会， 在范围和声誉方面， 巴黎的科学院。 威廉姆斯博士正在探索 蒙彼利埃的社会、文化和知识环境; 蒙彼利埃领导人物的学说和教义; 蒙彼利埃对不同理论家的影响， 从对生命的研究中推断出社会“生活”的模型， 系统. 她正在调查具体的制度和 行为者和知识分子之间的社会政治联系 由语言学、认识论和 概念上的相似性 本研究的意义在于 展示了蒙彼利埃如何以及为什么促成了决定性的重新定位 特别是在法国，并鼓励 生物社会思想的出现。

In the study of biology and medicine and the human sciences, scientists and physicians have generally been divided into two camps: vitalists and materialists. Vitalists argue that the phenomena of life entail something sui generis, something which provides sensibility, force, function, organization, "vitality," harmony and integration to matter. Materialists argue that the phenomena of life can ultimately be entirely explained by means of the standard laws of physics and chemistry. Like all generalizations, this attempt to divide scientists and physicians into two distinct camps over-simplifies very complex issues; but these generalizations also serve as a useful heuristic in examining the scientific goals of scientists. In the history of biology, the debate between vitalists and materialists, there have been several classic confrontations. The most famous involved Louis Pasteur in the 19th century. Another in the 18th century was between a British Jesuit, Tuberville Needham, and an Italian priest, Abbe Lazzaro Spallanzani. The debate continues to the present. Every time the issue seems to be resolved in favor of the materialists, however, the vitalists surge back with new arguments and experiments to convey the force of their ideas. Dr. Williams, under this research grant, is examining the origins of modern vitalist theory as it developed in Montpellier in southern France and the impact Montpellier vitalism had on biosocial thought to 1850. Montpellier was the home of an ancient and prestigious medical school and of the sole learned society in provincial France to compare in scope and reputation to the Academie des Sciences in Paris. Dr. Williams is exploring the social, cultural, and intellectual environment of Montpellier; the doctrines and teachings of the leading Montpellier figures; and the influence exerted by Montpellier on diverse theorists who extrapolated models for social "life" from the study of vital systems. She is investigating both concrete institutional and sociopolitical linkages among the actors and intellectual filliations established by linguistic, epistemological, and conceptual affinities. This study's significance lies in its showing how and why Montpellier fosters a decisive reorientation of the life sciences, especially in France, and encouraged the emergence of biosocial thought.