Uexküllian Umwelt as Science, Umwelt as Ideology : The Light and the Dark Side of a Concept

Abstract

The concept of Umwelt, in particular the interpretation originally developed by Jakob von Uexküll, played an important role in the development of biological thought of the first half of the twentieth century. The theory of Umwelt (Umweltlehre) was one of the most originalideas that appeared in German biology at that time.

Keywords

• Uexküll
• history of biology
• darwinism
• science and ideology