Things come to life : spontaneous generation revisited
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
Things come to life : spontaneous generation revisited
Oxford University Press, 2002
Available at / 3 libraries
-
No Libraries matched.
- Remove all filters.
Note
Includes bibliographical references and index
HTTP:URL=http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/fy033/2001054856.html Information=Table of contents only
HTTP:URL=http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0636/2001054856-d.html Information=Publisher description
HTTP:URL=http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0723/2001054856-b.html Information=Contributor biographical information
Contents of Works
- Machine generated contents note: 1 Beliefs 1
- 2 Flies and other insects 9
- 3 Microbes 27
- 4 The battle of the flasks begins 37
- 5 Materialism, for and against 51
- 6 Spoilt air 61
- 7 Internal parasites 75
- 8 Cotton wool 85
- 9 The spontaneous generation of cells 93
- 10 A disagreement in the Academie 101
- 11 Noxious particles 125
- 12 An English Pouchet 135
- 13 Seeing the floating particles 149
- 14 An epilogue about another subject 157
- Index 161
Description and Table of Contents
Description
Spontaneous generation is the term used to describe the theory that inanimate material can, under appropriate conditions, generate life forms by completely natural processes, not requiring or involving divine intervention. Although there were always some doubters, the idea held sway from Aristotle until the 17th century - even such noted experimentalists as William Harvey were believers From the 17th-century onwards, attempts were made to test the idea by experimental results - to see, for example, if flies or, later, funghi could be generated in sealed containers. The experiments initially gave conflicting results, but with the development of better methods, the idea was whittled away, although it survived in some minds until the 20th century. Figures as eminent as Leeowenhoek, Pasteur, and Darwin were drawn into the controversy The question of whether spontaneous generation really existed occupied not only scientists, but also philosophers, historians, and theologians. It engaged the interest of many different religious groups and many social classes, and was debated with great acrimony. This book deals with the social and religious context of the debate, and the personalities
Table of Contents
- Beliefs
- flies and other insects
- microbes
- the battle of the flasks begins
- materialism, for and against
- spoilt air
- internal parasites
- cotton wool
- the spontaneous generation of cells
- a disagreement in the Academie
- noxious particles
- an English pouchet
- seeing the floating particles
- an epilogue about another subject
- index.
by "Nielsen BookData"