Single Idea 22031

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 1. Nature]

Full Idea

Schelling made the image of the 'organism' central to his conception of nature, arguing that merely mechanical processes could never produce 'life' (as a self-producing, self-sustaining, self-directing process).

Gist of Idea

Schelling made organisms central to nature, because mere mechanism could never produce them

Source

report of Friedrich Schelling (Outline of a System of the Philosophy of Nature [1799]) by Terry Pinkard - German Philosophy 1760-1860 08

Book Reference

Pinkard,Terry: 'German Philosophy 1760-1860' [CUP 2002], p.204


A Reaction

At that date this seems a reasonable claim, but subsequent biochemistry has undermined it.