Summary;

—

A short account is given of the development of biological sciences from their Greek
origins to recent times. Biology as a pure science was the creation of Aristotle, but was
abandoned shortly after his death. However, considerable advances relevant for
medicine continued to be made until the end of classical times, in such fields as
anatomy and botany. These developments are reviewed.
After a long pause, both pure and applied research began anew in the thirteenth century,
and developed at an increasing pace thereafter. However, unlike astronomy and physics,
which experienced a startling resurgence as soon as adequate mathematical methods and
instruments became available, the development of biology was steady but slow until the
appearance of Darwin’s revolutionary ideas about evolution brought about a
fundamental shift in the subject’s outlook. The efflorescence of biological sciences in
the post-Darwinian period is outlined briefly.

Comments