Epigenesis, the emergence of preformism and the reception of Aristotelianism in the early modern times
2019
Abstract
Epigenesis, the emergence of preformism and the reception of Aristotelianism in the early modern times. The paper focuses on the exploration of the development of embryo with early modern thinkers.
The examples of Girolamo Fabrici d'Acquapendente and William Harvey capture the ways in which the return to Aristotelian legacy in biology influenced their thoughts about living creatures. Further, we demonstrate how this legacy was modified by authors of future generations, Marcello Malpighi and Jan Swammerdam, who opposed the tradition represented by Fabrici and Harvey and even Aristotle himself and how they themselves contributed to the emerging debate on epigenesis and preformationism.