The Problem of Individuality: A Course of Four Lectures Delivered Before the University of London in October 1913 (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

Hans Driesch

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0364446943 ISBN 13: 9780364446942

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

Explore how early 20th‑century thinkers linked science and philosophy to explain life, order, and becoming.

This nonfiction work surveys major ideas about wholeness, vitalism, and the nature of reality, with a focus on how concepts like space, time, and causality shape our understanding of living systems and the world.

In readable, structured lectures, the author traces how order theory tries to ground nature in rational principles, while debating whether freedom and predetermination can coexist with empirical knowledge. The discussions connect historical figures and modern critiques to illuminate the ongoing dialogue about science, metaphysics, and the philosophy of life.

• Key terms and concepts: wholeness, becoming, and the theory of order
• Critical look at vitality, nature, and causality in scientific thinking
• Connections between embryology, evolution, and metaphysical questions
• Evaluation of different philosophical positions on predetermination and free becoming

Ideal for readers of philosophy of science and the history of vitalism who want a clear, accessible overview of the debate on how life and reality are tied together.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0364446943
• ISBN 13: 9780364446942
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 102