Philosophy of Biology Before Biology examines biological and proto-biological writings from the mid-eighteenth century to the early nineteenth century (from Buffon to Cuvier; Kant to Oken; and Kielmeyer).

Cécilia Bognon-Küss is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Paris 7 ('Who am I?' Labex).

Charles T. Wolfe is a researcher in the Department of Philosophy and Moral Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium.

List of Contributors

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1. Cécilia Bognon-Küss & Charles T. Wolfe. The idea of "philosophy of biology before biology": a methodological provocation




Part I. FORM AND DEVELOPMENT




2. Stéphane Schmitt. Buffon's theories of generation and the changing dialectics of molds and molecules



3. Phillip Sloan. Metaphysics and "Vital" Materialism: The Gabrielle Du Châtelet Circle and French Vitalism



4. John Zammito. The Philosophical Reception of C. F. Wolff's Epigenesis in Germany, 1770-1790: Herder, Tetens and Kant




Part II. ORGANISM & ORGANIZATION



5. François Duchesneau. Senebier and the Advent of General Physiology



6. Tobias Cheung. Organization and Process. Living Systems Between Inner and Outer Worlds: Cuvier, Hufeland, Cabanis.





Part III. SYSTEMS



7. Georg Toepfer. Philosophy of Ecology Long Before Ecology: Kant's Idea of an Organized System of Organized Beings



8. Ina Goy. "All is leaf". Goethe's plant philosophy and poetry



9. Snait Gissis. 'Biologie': Lamarck's endeavor of a science of living entities

POSTSCRIPTS

1. Lynn Nyhart. A Historical Proposal Around Prepositions




2. Philippe Huneman. Philosophy after Philosophy of Biology before Biology

Cécilia Bognon-Küss and Charles T. Wolfe. Conclusion