The history & theory of vitalism

Hans Driesch, a German biologist and philosopher, published The History & Theory of Vitalism in 1914 as a comprehensive synthesis of his empirical and theoretical research. The work emerged from his influential studies on sea urchin embryos, which led him to reject mechanistic biology in favor of vitalism, positing the existence of an autonomous, non-physical organizing agent he termed entelechy. This English edition, published by Macmillan, served to formalize his arguments for a wider international audience during a period when the philosophical foundations of biology were undergoing significant reassessment.

The text is regarded as a hallmark of early twentieth-century theoretical biology, capturing the tension between emerging experimental genetics and the remnants of natural philosophy. Driesch’s design was to create a rigorous historical survey that traced vitalistic thought from Aristotle through the late nineteenth century before presenting his own formal theories. While the scientific community eventually pivoted toward molecular biology and rejected vitalism, the book remains a significant historical document of Driesch's attempt to reconcile teleological phenomena with scientific observation.