The Mechanism Of Life

"The Mechanism of Life" is a groundbreaking work by the French physiologist and biochemist Stéphane Leduc, originally published in 1911 under the title "La Biologie Synthétique." In this influential book, Leduc explores the idea of a mechanistic approach to understanding the fundamental processes of life, challenging traditional biological perspectives of his time. Leduc was a proponent of the concept that living organisms could be understood through principles of physics and chemistry, akin to a machine. He proposed that life processes could be explained through the physical and chemical interactions of living matter. Leduc's work was particularly notable for its attempt to synthesize life-like phenomena in the laboratory, using chemical substances to create structures resembling cells and even imitating some aspects of cellular functions. One of the key concepts in "The Mechanism of Life" is the idea of osmotic phenomena, wherein Leduc explored the role of osmosis in cellular processes. He conducted experiments involving the formation of artificial cells, referred to as "osmotic growths," by encapsulating various substances in semi-permeable membranes. Leduc's work was met with both acclaim and criticism. While some praised his innovative thinking and experimental techniques, others were skeptical of his mechanistic approach to understanding the complexity of living organisms. Over time, some of Leduc's ideas fell out of favor as the field of biology evolved, embracing more nuanced and holistic approaches to studying life. Despite its eventual historical context, "The Mechanism of Life" remains an important work in the history of biology, as it reflects an early attempt to bridge the gap between physics, chemistry, and the intricacies of living organisms. The book provides valuable insights into the scientific thinking of its time and the evolving understanding of life processes.

Life is difficult to define because it differs from one living being to another; the life of a man is not that of a polyp or of a plant, and if we find it impossible to discover the line which separates life from the other phenomena of Nature, it is in fact because no such line of demarcation exists--the passage from animate to inanimate is gradual and insensible.

It has been said that new discoveries and developments in the human, social, and natural sciences hang “in the air” (Bowler, 1983; 2008) prior to their consummation. While neo-Darwinist biology has been powerfully served by its mechanistic metaphysic and a reductionist methodology in which living organisms are considered machines, many of the chapters in this volume place this paradigm into question. Pairing scientists and philosophers together, this volume explores what might be termed “the New Frontiers” of biology, namely contemporary areas of research that appear to call an updating, a supplementation, or a relaxation of some of the main tenets of the Modern Synthesis. Such areas of investigation include: Emergence Theory, Systems Biology, Biosemiotics, Homeostasis, Symbiogenesis, Niche Construction, the Theory of Organic Selection (also known as “the Baldwin Effect”), Self-Organization and Teleodynamics, as well as Epigenetics. Most of the chapters in this book offer critical reflections on the neo-Darwinist outlook and work to promote a novel synthesis that is open to a greater degree of inclusivity as well as to a more holistic orientation in the biological sciences.

"The Mechanism of Life" by Stéphane Leduc (translated by William Deane Butcher). Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.

"[...]into a state of solution. Hence the study of life may be best begun by the study of those physico-chemical phenomena which result from the contact of two different liquids. Biology is thus but a branch of the physico-chemistry of liquids; it includes the study of electrolytic and colloidal solutions, and of the molecular forces brought into play by solution, osmosis, diffusion, cohesion, and crystallization. In this volume I have endeavoured to give as much of the science of energetics as can be treated without[...]".

The field of planetary biology and chemical evolution draws together experts in astronomy, paleobiology, biochemistry, and space science who work together to understand the evolution of living systems. This field has made exciting discoveries that shed light on how organic compounds came together to form self-replicating molecules-the origin of life. This volume updates that progress and offers recommendations on research programs-including an ambitious effort centered on Mars-to advance the field over the next 10 to 15 years. The book presents a wide range of data and research results on these and other issues: The biogenic elements and their interaction in the interstellar clouds and in solar nebulae. Early planetary environments and the conditions that lead to the origin of life. The evolution of cellular and multicellular life. The search for life outside the solar system. This volume will become required reading for anyone involved in the search for life's beginnings-including exobiologists, geoscientists, planetary scientists, and U.S. space and science policymakers.

This volume addresses fundamental issues in the philosophy of science in the context of two most intriguing fields: biology and economics. Written by authorities and experts in the philosophy of biology and economics, Mechanism and Causality in Biology and Economics provides a structured study of the concepts of mechanism and causality in these disciplines and draws careful juxtapositions between philosophical apparatus and scientific practice. By exploring the issues that are most salient to the contemporary philosophies of biology and economics and by presenting comparative analyses, the book serves as a platform not only for gaining mutual understanding between scientists and philosophers of the life sciences and those of the social sciences, but also for sharing interdisciplinary research that combines both philosophical concepts in both fields. The book begins by defining the concepts of mechanism and causality in biology and economics, respectively. The second and third parts investigate philosophical perspectives of various causal and mechanistic issues in scientific practice in the two fields. These two sections include chapters on causal issues in the theory of evolution; experiments and scientific discovery; representation of causal relations and mechanism by models in economics. The concluding section presents interdisciplinary studies of various topics concerning extrapolation of life sciences and social sciences, including chapters on the philosophical investigation of conjoining biological and economic analyses with, respectively, demography, medicine and sociology.