Abstract
The author begins with Haller’s peculiar scientific style,
which combines experimental procedures with a prodigious erudite apparatus and an exquisite argumentation. Haller assumes that the physiology occupies a central place within natural philosophy, following the fibrilistic current inaugurated by G.
Baglivi. Indeed, for Haller, the fiber is the beginning
element of the new physiology. According to the dominant view of his time, Haller regards the human
body as a natural machine, more perfect than the
artificial machines. Such machine operates spontaneously by means of two basic functions: sensibility and irritability. Taking the phenomenon of
vision as an example, the author argues that Haller’s
physiology displays an anthropology articulating the physical and the psychical level in an extremely complex way.
which combines experimental procedures with a prodigious erudite apparatus and an exquisite argumentation. Haller assumes that the physiology occupies a central place within natural philosophy, following the fibrilistic current inaugurated by G.
Baglivi. Indeed, for Haller, the fiber is the beginning
element of the new physiology. According to the dominant view of his time, Haller regards the human
body as a natural machine, more perfect than the
artificial machines. Such machine operates spontaneously by means of two basic functions: sensibility and irritability. Taking the phenomenon of
vision as an example, the author argues that Haller’s
physiology displays an anthropology articulating the physical and the psychical level in an extremely complex way.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Human Nature. |
| Subtitle of host publication | Anima, mente e corpo dall’antichità alle neuroscienze |
| Editors | Nunzio Allocca |
| Place of Publication | Roma |
| Publisher | Editrice Universitá La Sapienza |
| Pages | 141-153 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-88-9377-062-0 |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 |
Keywords
- Haller
- fibrilism
- human machine
- irritability
- sensibility