This volume begins by describing how and why epigenesis came to replace the reigning model of biological origination, preformation the theory that all organisms were preformed at the creation of the world.
"This very important book provides a rare insight into the background conditions of philosophical and literary production in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by examining the debate in biology between preformation theory and epigenesis. The chief significance of Müller-Sievers' study lies in demonstrating that the victory of epigenesis shaped theory formation in philosophy (Kant, Fichte), language acquisition (Herder, Humboldt), and literature (Goethe, Beaumarchais)."--Eckart Förster, University of Munich
"This very important book provides a rare insight into the background conditions of philosophical and literary production in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by examining the debate in biology between preformation theory and epigenesis. The chief significance of Müller-Sievers' study lies in demonstrating that the victory of epigenesis shaped theory formation in philosophy (Kant, Fichte), language acquisition (Herder, Humboldt), and literature (Goethe, Beaumarchais)."-Eckart Förster, University of Munich
