Vitalism and the Origin of Biosocial Thought

在生物学、医学和人文科学的研究中，科学家和医生通常分为两大阵营：生机论者和唯物主义者。活力论者认为，生命现象包含了某种独特的东西，它为物质提供了感性、力量、功能、组织、“活力”、和谐和整合。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来解释。像所有的概括一样，这种将科学家和医生分成两个截然不同的阵营的尝试过度简化了非常复杂的问题；但这些概括也可以作为检验科学家的科学目标的有用启发。在生物学的历史上，生命论者和唯物主义者之间的争论，有几个经典的对抗。最著名的是19世纪的路易斯·巴斯德。另一起发生在18世纪，发生在英国耶稣会士李约瑟（Tuberville Needham）和意大利神父拉扎罗·斯帕兰扎尼（Abbe Lazzaro Spallanzani）之间。争论一直持续到现在。然而，每当这个问题似乎在有利于唯物主义者的情况下得到解决时，生机论者就会带着新的论点和实验卷土重来，以传达他们的观点的力量。在这项研究资助下，威廉姆斯博士正在研究在法国南部的蒙彼利埃发展起来的现代生机论理论的起源，以及蒙彼利埃生机论对1850年之前的生物社会思想的影响。蒙彼利埃是一所古老而著名的医学院的所在地，也是法国外省唯一一个在规模和声誉上可与巴黎科学院相媲美的学术团体。威廉姆斯博士正在探索蒙彼利埃的社会、文化和知识环境；蒙彼利埃主要人物的学说和教义；以及蒙彼利埃对各种理论家的影响，他们从生命系统的研究中推断出社会“生活”的模型。她正在研究演员之间具体的制度和社会政治联系，以及由语言、认识论和概念亲和力建立的智力充实。这项研究的意义在于它展示了蒙彼利埃如何以及为什么促进了生命科学的决定性重新定位，特别是在法国，并鼓励了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.