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[Buffon: time, change and history].

H J Rheinberger1

  • 1Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Genetik, Berlin.

History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences
|January 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Georges Buffon

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Area of Science:

  • Natural History
  • Philosophy of Science

Background:

  • Buffon's contributions to natural history are debated regarding evolutionary thought.
  • This paper re-evaluates Buffon's work through the lens of his concept of time.

Discussion:

  • Buffon's species concept integrates a physical system notion with temporal elements.
  • Organic change is considered, but not a general theory of transformation.
  • His geological work introduced a law of change, creating a historical perspective for Earth.

Key Insights:

  • Buffon's integration of time into biological discourse subverted purely physical systems.
  • While Buffon explored organic change, his work did not yield 19th-century style evolutionism.
  • His geological history writing influenced natural history but did not establish evolutionary biology.

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Outlook:

  • Reinterpreting Buffon's temporal concepts offers new perspectives on early natural history.
  • Understanding Buffon's approach to change is crucial for tracing the history of biology.
  • This analysis highlights the distinct historical trajectory of biological thought compared to physics.