The aim of this paper is to analyse Alexander von Humboldt's
views on the theory of evolution and tackle the following question: Can
Humboldt be considered an evolutionist? I seek to show that Humboldt
acknowledges three essential Darwinian elements of the theory of
evolution: fossil records, the geographical distribution of species and the
struggle for survival. Further, Humboldt recognises a special relation
between the natural environment and organic life, and understands it in light
of his naturalistic holism. This holism reveals the unity of organic and
inorganic nature and highlights the agency of organic life whilst allowing it
to create and preserve the adaptive conditions in the natural environment.
Accordingly, I argue that Humboldt believes some kind of evolutionary
process happens in nature. However, due to the immense influence of
Kant’s transcendental study and the rigid utilisation of the empirical
method, Humboldt concludes that we cannot acquire knowledge ...of the
exact course of the evolutionary process. This, however, does not imply
Humboldt discredits the theory of evolution.
Cilj ovog rada predstavlja anliziranje stavova Aleksandra fon Humbolta o teoriji evolucije, kao i razmatranje sledećeg pitanja: da li se Humbolt može smatrati evolucionistom? Pokušaću da pokažem da Humbolt prepoznaje tri suštinska darvinovska elementa teorije evolucije: evidenciju putem fosila, geografsku rasprostranjenost vrsta i borbu za opstanak. Povrh toga, Humbolt uočava specifičnu relaciju između prirodne sredine i organskog života koju tumači u svetlu svog naturalističkog holizma. Ovaj holizam nam otkriva jedinstvo organske i neorganske prirode i naglašava delovanje organskog života, dok mu istovremeno omogućava da kreira i održava adaptivne uslove u prirodnoj sredini. Shodno tome, smatram da Humbolt veruje da se nekakav evolucioni proces dešava u prirodi. Ipak, zahvaljujući snažnom uticaju Kantovog transcendentalnog učenja, kao i stroge upotrebe empirijskog metoda, Humbolt zaključuje da ne možemo ima...ti znanje o tačnom toku evolucionog procesa. Ovakav zaključak, pak, ne podrazumeva i potpuno diskreditovanje teorije evolucije.
Keywords:
teorija evolucije / borba za opstanak / prirodna sredina / Kant / Darvin / theory of evolution / struggle for survival / natural environment / Darwin
Source:
The Nature of Science in Biology: A Resource for Educators, 2021, 205-214
TY - CHAP
AU - Stamenković, Bogdana
PY - 2021
UR - http://reff.f.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3602
AB - The aim of this paper is to analyse Alexander von Humboldt's
views on the theory of evolution and tackle the following question: Can
Humboldt be considered an evolutionist? I seek to show that Humboldt
acknowledges three essential Darwinian elements of the theory of
evolution: fossil records, the geographical distribution of species and the
struggle for survival. Further, Humboldt recognises a special relation
between the natural environment and organic life, and understands it in light
of his naturalistic holism. This holism reveals the unity of organic and
inorganic nature and highlights the agency of organic life whilst allowing it
to create and preserve the adaptive conditions in the natural environment.
Accordingly, I argue that Humboldt believes some kind of evolutionary
process happens in nature. However, due to the immense influence of
Kant’s transcendental study and the rigid utilisation of the empirical
method, Humboldt concludes that we cannot acquire knowledge of the
exact course of the evolutionary process. This, however, does not imply
Humboldt discredits the theory of evolution.
AB - Cilj ovog rada predstavlja anliziranje stavova Aleksandra fon Humbolta o teoriji evolucije, kao i razmatranje sledećeg pitanja: da li se Humbolt može smatrati evolucionistom? Pokušaću da pokažem da Humbolt prepoznaje tri suštinska darvinovska elementa teorije evolucije: evidenciju putem fosila, geografsku rasprostranjenost vrsta i borbu za opstanak. Povrh toga, Humbolt uočava specifičnu relaciju između prirodne sredine i organskog života koju tumači u svetlu svog naturalističkog holizma. Ovaj holizam nam otkriva jedinstvo organske i neorganske prirode i naglašava delovanje organskog života, dok mu istovremeno omogućava da kreira i održava adaptivne uslove u prirodnoj sredini. Shodno tome, smatram da Humbolt veruje da se nekakav evolucioni proces dešava u prirodi. Ipak, zahvaljujući snažnom uticaju Kantovog transcendentalnog učenja, kao i stroge upotrebe empirijskog metoda, Humbolt zaključuje da ne možemo imati znanje o tačnom toku evolucionog procesa. Ovakav zaključak, pak, ne podrazumeva i potpuno diskreditovanje teorije evolucije.
PB - Graphikon Teo, Dublin
T2 - The Nature of Science in Biology: A Resource for Educators
T1 - Alexander von Humboldt on Evolution of Natural Species
EP - 214
SP - 205
UR - https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_reff_3602
ER -
@inbook{
editor = "McCloughlin, Thomas J.J.",
author = "Stamenković, Bogdana",
year = "2021",
abstract = "The aim of this paper is to analyse Alexander von Humboldt's
views on the theory of evolution and tackle the following question: Can
Humboldt be considered an evolutionist? I seek to show that Humboldt
acknowledges three essential Darwinian elements of the theory of
evolution: fossil records, the geographical distribution of species and the
struggle for survival. Further, Humboldt recognises a special relation
between the natural environment and organic life, and understands it in light
of his naturalistic holism. This holism reveals the unity of organic and
inorganic nature and highlights the agency of organic life whilst allowing it
to create and preserve the adaptive conditions in the natural environment.
Accordingly, I argue that Humboldt believes some kind of evolutionary
process happens in nature. However, due to the immense influence of
Kant’s transcendental study and the rigid utilisation of the empirical
method, Humboldt concludes that we cannot acquire knowledge of the
exact course of the evolutionary process. This, however, does not imply
Humboldt discredits the theory of evolution., Cilj ovog rada predstavlja anliziranje stavova Aleksandra fon Humbolta o teoriji evolucije, kao i razmatranje sledećeg pitanja: da li se Humbolt može smatrati evolucionistom? Pokušaću da pokažem da Humbolt prepoznaje tri suštinska darvinovska elementa teorije evolucije: evidenciju putem fosila, geografsku rasprostranjenost vrsta i borbu za opstanak. Povrh toga, Humbolt uočava specifičnu relaciju između prirodne sredine i organskog života koju tumači u svetlu svog naturalističkog holizma. Ovaj holizam nam otkriva jedinstvo organske i neorganske prirode i naglašava delovanje organskog života, dok mu istovremeno omogućava da kreira i održava adaptivne uslove u prirodnoj sredini. Shodno tome, smatram da Humbolt veruje da se nekakav evolucioni proces dešava u prirodi. Ipak, zahvaljujući snažnom uticaju Kantovog transcendentalnog učenja, kao i stroge upotrebe empirijskog metoda, Humbolt zaključuje da ne možemo imati znanje o tačnom toku evolucionog procesa. Ovakav zaključak, pak, ne podrazumeva i potpuno diskreditovanje teorije evolucije.",
publisher = "Graphikon Teo, Dublin",
journal = "The Nature of Science in Biology: A Resource for Educators",
booktitle = "Alexander von Humboldt on Evolution of Natural Species",
pages = "214-205",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_reff_3602"
}
McCloughlin, T. J.J.,& Stamenković, B.. (2021). Alexander von Humboldt on Evolution of Natural Species. in The Nature of Science in Biology: A Resource for Educators
Graphikon Teo, Dublin., 205-214.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_reff_3602
McCloughlin TJ, Stamenković B. Alexander von Humboldt on Evolution of Natural Species. in The Nature of Science in Biology: A Resource for Educators. 2021;:205-214.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_reff_3602 .
McCloughlin, Thomas J.J., Stamenković, Bogdana, "Alexander von Humboldt on Evolution of Natural Species" in The Nature of Science in Biology: A Resource for Educators (2021):205-214,
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_reff_3602 .
