Man not a machine : a study of the finalistic aspects of life / by Eugene Rignano.

  • Eugenio Rignano
Date:
1926
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Man not a machine : a study of the finalistic aspects of life / by Eugene Rignano. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    posive aspect is evinced by the fact that the organism forms in itself what will later serve for its conservation. The formative activity seems endowed with a ‘ prevision ’ of future needs; it creates the organ of sight in the embryo while still in the maternal womb, although this organ will serve it only in the extra-uterine life; it creates the stomach and the digestive apparatus, useless to the embryo which still is nourished by the maternal blood; and the lungs, though no respiratory function is yet necessary. Ontogenesis thus seems ‘ mar- shalled * by some occult intelligence or * entelechy' in the same way that the construction of a machine and the direction of its work is presided over by the mind of the engineer. The direction of ontogenetic develop- ment toward a predetermined end is also evidenced by the fact that the embryo overcomes early disturbances which might deflect it from its course. Such disturbances would certainly de-
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