Preface
The development of the life sciences may be said to have effected a
gradual transition from a more or less intuitive prescientific approach
based on crude observation, via a more refined type of observation to
experimentation and hence to the level of formal theories. Quantitative
methods are introduced at the second level; they comprise: (a) quantitative
design of experiments; (b) regrouping of experimental results; (c) evaluation of results by means of mathematical or special statistical techniques.
The last step implies the introduction of theoretical concepts, but we are
not justified in speaking of theoretical science unless true theoretical considerations-models or hypotheses-precede experiment, and this is then
followed by an attempt to link results with theory so as to verify the theory.
Biology at present seems to lie somewhere between the second and third
level mentioned above, not yet having achieved the status of a theoretical
science in all its branches. Thus, though the need for quantification and
mathematical formulation is widely recognized, many biologists still believe
that e.g. general systems theory is too abstract to be of use in handling
concrete problems. Those, however, who look critically at the present state
of affairs cannot adopt this attitude.
Here I would like to pay may respects to the founders of theoretical biology: A. J. LOTKA in his Elements of Physical Biology laid the groundwork for
the theoretical approach to almost all the problems of the life sciences, especially those of metabolism and related phenomena, such as occur in ecology;
N. RASHEVSKY, in several now classical monographs, in Mathematical
Biophysics, and through the Bulletin of Mathematical Biop~ysics, which he
founded, made a decisive contribution to the subject, and his efforts are
now culminating in a universal theory of "Relational Biology"; L. VON
BERTALANFFY used the term "Theoretical biology" in several monographs,
and we owe to him the concept of steady-state (FlieGgleichgewicht) which,
generalized as an open system, led him to the principal postulate of a
General Systems Theory. The late H. QUASTLER deserves a special mention
for having convinced biologists that information theory may usefully be
applied to biology-and psychology. As a result of this pioneering work,
a world-wide research movement was set off-though the centre of gravity
lies in the United States. The time is now ripe for attempts to bridge the
gap which remains in biology between steps two and three as defined above.
The development of the life sciences may be said to have effected a
gradual transition from a more or less intuitive prescientific approach
based on crude observation, via a more refined type of observation to
experimentation and hence to the level of formal theories. Quantitative
methods are introduced at the second level; they comprise: (a) quantitative
design of experiments; (b) regrouping of experimental results; (c) evaluation of results by means of mathematical or special statistical techniques.
The last step implies the introduction of theoretical concepts, but we are
not justified in speaking of theoretical science unless true theoretical considerations-models or hypotheses-precede experiment, and this is then
followed by an attempt to link results with theory so as to verify the theory.
Biology at present seems to lie somewhere between the second and third
level mentioned above, not yet having achieved the status of a theoretical
science in all its branches. Thus, though the need for quantification and
mathematical formulation is widely recognized, many biologists still believe
that e.g. general systems theory is too abstract to be of use in handling
concrete problems. Those, however, who look critically at the present state
of affairs cannot adopt this attitude.
Here I would like to pay may respects to the founders of theoretical biology: A. J. LOTKA in his Elements of Physical Biology laid the groundwork for
the theoretical approach to almost all the problems of the life sciences, especially those of metabolism and related phenomena, such as occur in ecology;
N. RASHEVSKY, in several now classical monographs, in Mathematical
Biophysics, and through the Bulletin of Mathematical Biop~ysics, which he
founded, made a decisive contribution to the subject, and his efforts are
now culminating in a universal theory of "Relational Biology"; L. VON
BERTALANFFY used the term "Theoretical biology" in several monographs,
and we owe to him the concept of steady-state (FlieGgleichgewicht) which,
generalized as an open system, led him to the principal postulate of a
General Systems Theory. The late H. QUASTLER deserves a special mention
for having convinced biologists that information theory may usefully be
applied to biology-and psychology. As a result of this pioneering work,
a world-wide research movement was set off-though the centre of gravity
lies in the United States. The time is now ripe for attempts to bridge the
gap which remains in biology between steps two and three as defined above.