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Kant’s views on preformation and epigenesis

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How does Kant repsond to the early modern preformation-epigenesis controversy? In part 1 of the paper, I will introduce the historical context: I provide an overview of important systematic characteristics of ovistic and animalculist preformationist (1.1) and mechanical and vitalistic epigenetic (1.2) early modern accounts of reproduction and heredity. In part 2 of the paper, I will introduce the scholarly debate (2.1) about Kant’s reception of the early modern controversy: while no one considers Kant a radical defender of preformation, some scholars consider him a more or less radical defender of epigenesis. A greater number of scholars read Kant’s position as a combination of preformationist and epigenetic elements. Others ignore or even deny any influence of the preformation-epigenesis controversy on Kant. Based on an analysis of preformationist (2.2) and epigenetic elements (2.3) in Kant’s relevant writings, I will support scholars (2.4) who claim that Kant’s position contains both, preformationist and epigenetic elements, but will do so on a far more comprehensive analysis of criteria. I will also go beyond existing discussions deciding whether Kant’s account was closer to ovistic or animalculist variants of preformation, and mechanical or vitalistic variants of epigenesis.
Universidade Estadual de Campinas
Title: Kant’s views on preformation and epigenesis
Description:
How does Kant repsond to the early modern preformation-epigenesis controversy? In part 1 of the paper, I will introduce the historical context: I provide an overview of important systematic characteristics of ovistic and animalculist preformationist (1.
1) and mechanical and vitalistic epigenetic (1.
2) early modern accounts of reproduction and heredity.
In part 2 of the paper, I will introduce the scholarly debate (2.
1) about Kant’s reception of the early modern controversy: while no one considers Kant a radical defender of preformation, some scholars consider him a more or less radical defender of epigenesis.
A greater number of scholars read Kant’s position as a combination of preformationist and epigenetic elements.
Others ignore or even deny any influence of the preformation-epigenesis controversy on Kant.
Based on an analysis of preformationist (2.
2) and epigenetic elements (2.
3) in Kant’s relevant writings, I will support scholars (2.
4) who claim that Kant’s position contains both, preformationist and epigenetic elements, but will do so on a far more comprehensive analysis of criteria.
I will also go beyond existing discussions deciding whether Kant’s account was closer to ovistic or animalculist variants of preformation, and mechanical or vitalistic variants of epigenesis.

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