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The Biophysics of Space and Time

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2022

N. Rashevsky*
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, University of Chicago.

Extract

In studying various possible physico-chemical interpretations of biological phenomena we arrived by a systematical development of what we have called “Mathematical Biophysics” at the interpretation of even such complex phenomena, as those involved in learning, Gestalt-discrimination and Gestalt-transposition. Yet, in spite of the apparent progress made along this newly trodden road, a sophisticated mind may feel that we are advancing into a peculiar “cul-de-sac.” Indeed we are discussing possible physico-chemical mechanisms underlying the discrimination, recognition and constancy-properties of various spatial forms. Yet we have not touched at all the much more fundamental question, which logically precedes all the above, namely, what can be the physicochemical interpretation of the general and primordial fact that we perceive those forms as spatial? Can we conceive any physicochemical model at all, which would illustrate how and why we experience everything as being in space?

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Philosophy of Science Association 1935

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References

1 Phys. Zeit. 10, 104, 1909.

2 Pourquoi l'Éspace a trois dimensions. Dernières Pensées. P. 55. E. Flammarion, Paris, 1920.

Science et Methode. P. 95 et seq. E. Flammarion, Paris, 1909.

La Science et l'Hypothèse. P. 68 et seq. E. Flammarion, Paris, 1918.

3 Cf. O. Veblens article: “Spinors.” Science, 80, 415, 1934.

4 H. Henning. Der Geruch. J. A. Barth, Leipzig, 1924.

5 For references cf. our paper in Philosophy of Science 1, 176, 1934.

6 H. Hoagland. Jour. Gen. Psych. 9, 267, 1933.