The Science and Philosophy of the Organism: The Gifford Lectures Delivered Before the University of Aberdeen in the Year 1907

How life regulates itself: a clear map of the laws behind growth, change, and stability This book surveys how living things respond to disturbances, restore order, and carry their identity forward. It explains regulation as a field that draws lines between morphogenesis, adaptation, and the autonomy of life. Readers will follow how researchers distinguish different kinds of regulation, from restoring form to adjusting function. The work grounds its discussion in concrete examples from plants and simple animals to illuminate the principles behind life’s repetitive and flexible behavior. - How regulation appears after parts are removed or conditions change, and how restoration differs from mere reaction - The ideas of equifinality and retro-differentiation, shown in Planaria, Clavellina, Tubularia, Hydra, and others - The distinction between morphogenesis, adaptation, and the autonomy of the living organism - The shift from describing forms to understanding the regulatory processes that make life possible Ideal for readers of philosophy of biology, theoretical biology, and early studies of life’s regulatory mechanisms. Read more