Vitalism and the Scientific Image in Post-Enlightenment Life Science, 1800-2010

“It has provided language and frameworks for defining the nature of life that can be employed in concert with other philosophical doctrines. Indeed, by the end of the book, the essayists argue that vitalism is materialistic, and materialism is vitalistic. … The volume is worthwhile for any active philosophy of science program. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduate, graduate students, and researchers/faculty.” (A. K. Ackerberg-Hastings, Choice, Vol. 51 (6), February, 2014)

“The editors have assembled a fascinating selection of papers that examine the history of vitalism and trace its various developments from the end of the Enlightenment to the modern day, reassessing both its historical and conceptual import. … a compelling and insightful volume, which puts the spark back into the contemporary Vitalist debate.” (Adam Ferner, Philosophy, February, 2014)

“This collection is a rare and much welcome collective review of the diversity, vigor, and transform

ations of post-Enlightenment vitalism and associated schools of thought. It provides historical insights that are otherwise not available. … this book greatly enriches and complicates our understanding of modern vitalism.” (Ku-ming (Kevin) Chang, Early Science and Medicine, Vol. 19 (4), 2014)

“Vitalism and the Scientific Image in Post-Enlightenment Life Science brings together cutting-edge analyses that will be of lasting interest to historians and philosophers of the life sciences and medicine, as well as to scientists working in these and related areas. … All three sections contain engaging essays that make important contributions to either the history of vitalism, its conceptual foundations, or its metaphysical assumptions.” (Pierre-Olivier Méthot, Journal of the History of Biology, Vol. 47, 2014)

“The present volume is distinctive in 

its broad construal of vitalist arguments on the one hand, and on the other, its stated attempt to relate vitalism to the prevalent views of what it meant and means to be scientific. … The editors of this rich and diversified volume have gone a long way towards enabling the readers to concurrently study the intricate past of the problematique of vitalism and through its understanding, deeply enrich contemporary work and thinking.” (Snait B. Gissis, Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Vol. 47, 2014)