Der Kausalitätsbegriff in seinem Verhältnis zum Vitalismus

Abstract:

The concept of causality in relation to vitalism

This hitherto unpublished part of the early work of Gerbert Grohmann (1897-1957) presents the philosophical contribution belonging to his doctoral thesis in natural sciences submitted in 1923 to the philosopher Hans Driesch (1867-1941) at the university of Leipzig, Germany. Originally a biologist, Driesch was the founder of neovitalism which he developed by pioneering experimental works on sea-urchin embryos in Naples, Italy. Driesch closely linked his neovitalism with Aristotle's philosophy. This resulted in appointments to professorships at the universities of Aberdeen, Heidelberg, Cologne and finally Leipzig. Driesch increasingly tended towards a psychological interpretation of the vital force. Therefore he called it a»psychoid«- a soullike quality. Grohmann, however, explained in a classical way in his now published philosophical contribution that life can be reduced neither to mere causalism nor to purposeful psychism. Driesch accepted Grohmann's contribution with the statement that its content did not share his own understanding life. But Driesch gave it the highest mark because of Grohmann's clear arguments and excellent sequence of argumentation.