前达尔文时期生物学思想中的梯度观念

Biological Gradient Concept in Pre-Darwin Period

源于亚里士多德的自然梯级观念深深影响了前达尔文时期的生物学思想以及相关哲学讨论,同时也是当代各种生物学哲学议题的源头。特别是心灵与机制、自然梯级的实在性与动态性以及目的论解释的合理性议题成为生物学所面临的重要哲学问题并延续至今。从生物学哲学发展历史的角度来看,梯度观念作为一种核心的生物学解释性原则,连接起了达尔文革命之前和之后的围绕生物学的哲学探索。

The concept of ladder of nature originated from Aristotle deeply influenced the discussion of biological thought and philosophy in the pre - Darwin period. This concept is also the source of many important subjects of contemporary philosophy of biology. The issues of mind and mechanism, reality and dynamic nature of the concept of ladder, and the rationality of teleological explanation in particular, have become major problems of contemporary philosophy of biology. From the perspective of the development of philosophy of biology, the biological gradient con- cept as a core explanatary principle has connected the philosophical exploration into biology before and after the Darwin revolution.