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What in Reinke’s case came about almost unperceived, Driesch did with full consciousness and intention, following the necessity laid upon him by his own gradual personal development and by his consistent, tenacious prosecution of the problem.
Reinke’s “Theory of Dominants” started from such tectonic conceptions, and so originally did Driesch’s Neovitalism, of which we shall presently have to speak. Reinke’s theory has gone through several stages of development. At first its general tenor was as follows: Every living thing is typically different from everything that is not living. What explains this difference?
Reinke and Hamann both revive some of the arguments and opinions set forth in the early days of Darwinism by Wigand, an author whose works are gradually gaining increased appreciation. It is Reinke’s “unalterable conviction” that organisms have evolved, and that they have done so after the manner of fan-shaped genealogical trees.
Associated with them is Reinke’s “Theory of Dominants.” Driesch started from their ranks, and is a most interesting example of consistent development from a recognition of the impossibilities of the mechanistic position to an individually thought-out vitalistic theory. Hertwig, too, takes a very definite position of his own in regard to these matters.
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