Philosophy of Biology around the Vienna Circle: Ludwig von Bertalanffy, Joseph Henry Woodger and Philipp Frank

Abstract

This paper addresses the historical context of Bertalanffy’s concept of Theoretical Biology, his early combattants, friends, teachers and the philosophical position of his critical reviewer Philipp Frank. I will describe the characteristics of his theory and how his ideas are embedded into the background discourse of the day. In the following five sections I will show that there are three main historical factors that shaped Bertalanffy’s intellectual views: First, his philosophical training with Schlick and Carnap, second, his close connection with the biologists in the Prater-Vivarium, and third, his close contact to J.H. Woodger and, through him, with the organicists of the Theoretical Club in Cambridge. This narration also sheds some light on one of the founders of the Vienna Circle, Philipp Frank. I shall provide some historical data about his early interest in biology and discuss his position towards some basic problems in biology.

I am indebted to Elliott Sober and Michael Stöltzner for a critical reading.