On the Physical Basis of Life

E400553

"On the Physical Basis of Life" is a seminal 19th-century essay by biologist Thomas Henry Huxley that argues for a materialistic, scientific explanation of life processes.

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On the Physical Basis of Life canonical 1

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Predicate Object
instanceOf 19th-century essay
essay
philosophy of science work
scientific essay
arguesAgainst vitalism
arguesFor materialism
scientific naturalism
associatedWith Victorian scientific naturalism
conflict thesis of science and religion
author Thomas Henry Huxley
surface form: T. H. Huxley

Thomas Henry Huxley
countryOfOrigin United Kingdom
discusses continuity between living and non-living matter
limits of metaphysical speculation in science
protoplasm as the physical basis of life
field biology
history of science
philosophy of biology
firstPublishedIn The Fortnightly Review
surface form: Fortnightly Review
genre popular science
scientific lecture
hasPerspective empiricist
reductionist
historicalSignificance important contribution to popularizing Darwinism
key text in the Victorian debate over materialism
includedIn collections of Huxley’s essays
influenced debates on science and religion in the 19th century
later philosophy of biology
public understanding of evolution
influencedBy Charles Darwin
On the Origin of Species
contemporary cell theory
protoplasm concept
language English
lectureLocation Edinburgh
lectureYear 1868
mainTopic materialistic explanation of life
mechanistic view of life processes
protoplasm theory
relationship between matter and life
vitalism versus materialism
originalForm public lecture
positionTaken life phenomena are explicable by physical and chemical laws
mind depends on physical processes in the brain
no special vital force is required to explain life
publicationCentury 19th century
publicationYear 1868
targetAudience educated lay public

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Science and Culture, and Other Essays hasEssay On the Physical Basis of Life