The history of present challenges of Experimental Physiology

Abstract

Experimental physiology is a science with a bulk of results, publications, scientific societies, institutions and Nobel Prize. Nevertheless Physiology face some challenges such as: animistic conceptions, preformative ideas, research control regulations and reductionism to other sciences. The aim of this paper was to analyze the principal topics in dispute throughout history. Logic historic method was used searching the antecedents from the ancient cultures till the establishment of experimental physiology. These challenges show a sequence of appearance and reappearance during the past. The animistic era started when men lived in caves. Aristotle and other natural philosophers (physiologoi) defeated the animism conception but their priority of observation over research lead to the Physiology reduction to Anatomy. Shortly after Harvey the reductionism attempts to either chemistry laws (iatrochemistry) or physics laws (iatrophysics) failure to explain functions. Due to this it was facilitated the way to a new animism from Stahl-Barthez . Finally, the consolidation of experimental physiology in the second half of XIX century meant: a) the end of reductionism to Anatomy; b) the superiority of research over observation; c) the collapse of both animism and of the preformative hypothesis. In conclusion: 1. Experimental physiology is facing challenges which have their roots in the past, 2. These challenges show a sequence of appearance and reappearance during the past. Key words = Experimental physiology, challenges, physiologoi, Aristotle, Logic historic method, Harvey, iatrochemistry, iatrophysics, animism,Stahl, Barthez, preformation