Vitalism Revisited: History, Philosophy, Biology
March 21, 2008
Opening Remarks:
- Robert Mitchell (English, Duke)
Speakers:
- Stefan Helmreich (Anthropology, MIT): “Life Forms at Three Extremes”; Comment: Tim Lenoir (Jenkins Chair, Duke)
- Joan Steigerwald (Science and Technology Studies, York U, Canada); “Figuring the Organism in Late 18th Century Germany: From Vital Forces to Instrumental Languages”; Comment: Robert Mitchell (English, Duke)
- Susan Oyama (Emerita, CUNY): “Biologists Behaving Badly: Vitalism and the Language of Language”; Comment: Daniel McShea (Biology and Philosophy, Duke)
Round Table:
- Robert Brandon (Philosophy and Biology, Duke)
- Thomas Pfau (English and German, Duke)
- Güven Güzeldere (Philosophy and Cognitive Neuroscience)
- Moderator: Barbara Herrnstein Smith (Comparative Literature and English, Duke)
Co-Sponsors: the Franklin Humanities Institute, the English Department, and the Program in the History and Philosophy of Science, Technology and Medicine