Ökologie als existentiales Problem im Viererschema der biologischen Wissenschaften

Abstract

A “quadruple scheme” of the biological sciences is developed, which encloses four fundamental disciplines, morphology, physiology, taxonomy and ecology, marked by two polarized axes: the first “form—function” represents the antagonism of morphology/taxonomy contrary to physiology/ecology, the second, “unity — multiplicity” means that of morphology/physiology contrary to axonomy/ecology (Fig. 1). In this system ecology appears as science of “existential clarification” ("Daseinserhellung” by Heidegger). Every special science may be arranged into the scheme as a part-, collective- or borderdiscipline (Fig. 2). In the philosophy of human knowledge the quadruple scheme is founded on the table of the categorical “four cosmological ideas” by K ant . It has also a logical basis (Fig. 4), and is equivalent to the “quadruple structure of the inductive method” by M. H artmann (Fig. 5). In the psychology of the human personality the polarity of the axis “form—function” corresponds to the “function-types” “feeling/thinking” by C. G. J ung , the polarity “unity — multiplicity” corresponds to the “attitude-types” “introvert/extrovert” (Fig. 6). An analysis of the individuslities of G oethe , L inné , H ales and S prengel demonstrates these relations. Moreover are discussed the principles of the biology and its history sinco the oldest times of tho Jonian philosophy. In modern definition, they are “constituted materia” and “harmonic balance of powers". The biological use of a principle “teleology” is only of heuristic value. Notes on the valuation of the subject—object axis, the extent of validity and the futuro prospect of the quadruple scheme are given.