Generation

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  • Created by: elzy
  • Created on: 16-05-14 15:02
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  • Generation
    • All of the processes by which something comes ino existence, includes degeneration (monsters) and regeneration (replacement), vs corruption (out of existence)
    • Key themes: role of God in nature, extent of human free will, rights and roles of sexes
    • Prevalent views on generation
      • Aristotle: male produced matter, female the form
      • Galen: male and female both produced semen --> germinal mass
      • Wililam Harvey, 1651 'On Generation': EPIGENESIS. Formation of structure from originall homogeneous substance
      • Preformation (MEDICAL MAJORITY): organs not formed, always there.
        • Ovists vs spermists
        • Mocked for credulity: Eve had entire human race in ovaries.
        • Not ridiculous. Embryo treated with vinegar - invisible structures came to light (EXPERIMENTAL PHILOSOPHY)
    • Green Polyp: Abraham Trembley + Charles Bonnet, 1740s: GP could walk and regenerate. SOULS? God?
      • Detailed observation and DESCRPTION, reluctance to speculate. Language of observance (Daston)
      • Royal Society: 'as great a marvel as the phoenix'
    • Maupertuis: mathematician, man of leisure.1745 - Venus Physique - raunchy about childbirth. A universe governed by DESIRE.
      • 1746 inspired SATIRE 'The anti venus physique' - link with Erasmus Darwin
      • Untitled
    • Haller-Wolff debate
      • Albrecht von Haller: EGG BASED PREFORMATIONISM. 1758 'On the formation of the heart in the chick'. Wrote poems. DESCRIPTIVE.
      • Caspar Wolff: PROGRESSIVE SOLIDIFICATION OF PARTS FROM HOMOGENEOUS. Wrote thesis refuting Haller in 1759.
      • Wolff accused Haller of being ad hoc. Haller said he was religious and revealing God (Protestant).  Wolff thought Haller's preformationism urned world into lifeless machine, repriving God.

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