“Mechanism… provides us with no grasp of the specific characteristics of organisms, of the organization of organic processes among one another, of organic 'wholeness', of the problem of the origin of organic 'teleology', or of the historical character of organisms… We must therefore try to establish a new standpoint which — as opposed to mechanism — takes account of organic wholeness, but… treats it in a manner which admits of scientific investigation.”

—  Ludwig von Bertalanffy

Source: 1930s, Modern Theory of Development, 1933, 1962, p. 46

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Ludwig von Bertalanffy 65
austrian biologist and philosopher 1901–1972

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