Das erste zoologische Kompendium in der Zeit der Renaissance: Edward Wottons Schrift „Über die Differenzen der Tiere”

The English physian Edward Wotton wrote the first zoological compendium in the time of the Renaissance. As a convinced representative of Renaissance-Humanism Wotton strictly applied Aristotelian methodological principles to Aristotelian facts. In this way he tried to make Classical Antiquity complete; the Renaissance of ancient zoology is here tantamount to a new beginning. Wotton's achievement is in the first place to have provided a good summary of the whole of ancient zoological knowledge to which he added a few observations of his own. He carried through the Aristotelian concept of differentiation by many distinguishing features more strictly than Aristotle himself and all subsequent au…

Die Zeitschrift „Der Biologe” als Organ der NS-Biologie

De piscibus et aquatilibus libelli III novi (Zürich 1556) Ein bisher unbeachtetes zoologisches Werk von Conrad Gesner

Conrad Gesner was one of the main representatives of Renaissance-Humanism. Although having great respect for the knowledge handed down by classical antiquity, he combined his studies of the ancient authors with empirical knowledge obtained by immediate observation of nature. His most famous work was the great „Historia animalium”, a comprehense encyclopedia of zoology. Preparing this main zoological work Gesner wrote a small book about fishes „De piscibus et aquatilibus libri III novi” (1556), through which it is possible to gain a deep insight into Gesner's preparatory work and method.

Zum Verhältnis von Religion und Zoologie im 17. Jahrhundert (William Harvey, Nathaniel Highmore, Jan Swammerdam)

Jan Swammerdam was one of the first scientists to do biological research on the basis of physico-theology. He was a very religious man and thought that by studying the secrets of nature he could best serve the Almighty God. He saw his life's work in demostrating the importance of God in the world of the smallest animals. The most important works of Swammerdam refer to the world of the insects and other lower animals, which he called the „legions of the God of Israel”, through which God tells mankind to recognize their sins, to desist from them and to honour him with greater humility. „The miracles of nature” he said „are an open bible, which everywhere points to God as its eternal origin.” …

Die Politisierung der Biologie zur Zeit des Nationalsozialismus [1]

Betrachtet man die in der Zeit zwischen 1933 und 1945 in Deutschland erschienene Literatur, die sich mit biologischen Inhalten oder der Definition des Faches Biologie auseinandersetzt, lassen sich zwei Pole der Biologie unterscheiden. Zum einen bleibt die Biologie, d. h. sowohl ihre Inhalte als auch ihre Vertreter, mehr oder weniger unbeeinflust vom Nationalsozialismus. Zum anderen wird die Biologie zum Werkzeug des Nationalsozialismus; ihre Aufgabe ist es dann, seine Ideologie mit biologischen Kenntnissen zu stutzen und zu bestatigen. Naturlich last sich nicht in jedem Fall eine klare Grenze zwischen diesen beiden Tendenzen ziehen. Oft werden an sich rein wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse an …