Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A Pact with the Embryo: Viktor Hamburger, Holistic and Mechanistic Philosophy in the Development of Neuroembryology, 1927–1955

  • Published:
Journal of the History of Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Viktor Hamburger was a developmental biologist interested in the ontogenesis of the vertebrate nervous system. A student of Hans Spemann at Freiburg in the 1920s, Hamburger picked up a holistic view of the embryo that precluded him from treating it in a reductionist way; at the same time, he was committed to a materialist and analytical approach that eschewed any form of vitalism or metaphysics. This paper explores how Hamburger walked this thin line between mechanistic reductionism and metaphysical vitalism in light of his work on the factors influencing growth of neurons into limb buds, and the discovery of nerve growth factor, work carried out with Rita Levi-Montalcini and Stanley Cohen.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen, G.E.1978Thomas Hunt Morgan:The Man and His Science.Princeton: Princeton University Press.

  • Allen, G.E.2004“The Viktor Hamburger Papers and Reprint Collection in Woods Hole.” The Mendel Newsletter,New Series #13 (March):12–15.

  • Ash, M.1995Gestalt Psychology in German Culture,1890–1967:Holism and the Quest for Objectivity.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

  • Benson, K.1987“H.Newell Martin,W.K.Brooks and the Reformation of American Biology.”American Zoologist 27:759–771.

  • Bertalanffy, L.von 1933Modern Theories of Development:An Introduction to Theo-retical Biology.London: Humphrey Milford,Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bueker, E.1948“Implantation of Tumors in the Hind Limb Field of the Embryonic Chick and the Developmental Response of the Lumbo-sacral Nervous System.” Anatomical Record 102368–390.

  • Carson,H.2001“A New Erz in Science at Washington University,St.Louis:Viktor Hamburger 's Zoology Department in the 1940s.” International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience 19:125–131.

  • Clark, A.1997Being There.Putting Brain;Body and World Together.Cambridge,MA: MIT Press.

  • Cohen, S.1958“A Nerve Growth Promoting Protein.” W.D. McElroy and Bentley Glass (eds.),Chemical Basis of Development.Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press,pp.665–676.

  • Cohen, S.and R. Levi-Montalcini.1956“A Nerve Growth Stimulating Factor, Isolated from Snake Venom.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Science #42: 571–574.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowan, W.M.1981“Viktor Hamburger 's Contribution to Developmental Neuro-biology:An Appreciation,” in Studies in Developmental Neurobiology.Essays in Honor of Viktor Hamburger.New York: Oxford University Press,pp.3–21.

  • Cowan, W.M.2001“Viktor Hamburger and Rita Levi-Montalcini:The path to the Discovery of Nerve Growth Factor.” Annual Reviews of Neuroscience 24:551–600.

  • Detwiler, S.R.1933“Experimental Studies upon the Development of the Amphibian Nervous System.” Biological Reviews 8:269–310.

  • Fa ¨ssler, P.E.1996Hans Spemann (1869–1941).Experimentelle Forschung im Span-nungsfeld von Empirie und Theorie.Berlin: Springer-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glu ¨cksohn-Waelsch,S.1981“Viktor Hamburger and Dynamic Concepts of Developmental Genetics,” in Studies in Developmental Neurobiology.Essays in Honor of Viktor Hamburger.New York: Oxford University Press,pp.44–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groeben, C.1975The Naples Zoological Station at the Time of Anton Dohrn.Exhibition and Catalog.Naples,Edition for the Centenary of the Naples Zoological Station.

  • Hamburger, V.1925“U ¨ber den Ein.uss des Nervensystems auf die Entwicklung der Extremita ¨ten von Rana fusca,” Wilhelm Roux' Archiv fu ¨r Entwicklungsmechanik der Organismen 105149–201.

  • Hamburger, V.1926“Versuche u ¨ber Komplementa ¨r-Farben bei Ellritzen (Phoxnus laevis),” Zeitschrift fu ¨r Vergleichende Physiologie 4:286–304.

  • Hamburger, V.1927“Entwicklungsphysiologische Beziehhungen zwischen den Extremita ¨ten der Amphibien und ihrer Innervation.” Die Naturwissenschaften 15:657–661; 677–68

  • Hamburger, V.1928“Die Entwicklung Experimentell Erzeugter Nervenloser und Schwach In-nervierter Extremita ¨ten von Anuren.” Wilhelm Roux' Archiv fu ¨r Entwicklungs-mechanik der Organismen 114272–362.

  • Hamburger, V.1933“The Effect of Wing Bud Extirpation and Transplantation in Chick Em-bryos on the Development of the Central Nervous System,” The Collecting Net 8 (August 26):299–300.

  • Hamburger, V.1934“The Effects of Wing Bud Extirpation on the Development of the Central Nervous System in Chick Embryos.” Journal of Experimental Zoology 68:449–494.

  • Hamburger, V.1938“Morphogenetic and Axial Self-di.erentiation of Transplanted Limb Pri-mordia of Two-day Chick Embryos.” Journal of Experimental Zoology 77:379–397.

  • Hamburger, V.1939“Motor and Sensory Hyperplasia Following Limb Bud Transplantations in Chick Embryos.” Physiological Zoology 12:268–284.

  • Hamburger, V.1941“Transplantation of Limb Primordia og Homozygous and Heterozygous Chondrodystrophic ('Creeper' )Chick Embryos.” Physiological Zoology 14:355–364.

  • Hamburger, V.1942a.“The Developmental Mechanics of Hereditary Abnormalities in the Chick.” Biological Symposia 6:311–334.

  • Hamburger, V.1942b.A Manual of Experimental Embryology.Chicago: University of Chicago Press,2nd ed., 1960

  • Hamburger, V.and Hamilton, H.L.1951“A Series of Normal Stages in the Development of the Chick Embryo.” Journal of Morphology 88:49–92.Reprinted in 1995 in Developmental Dynamics 195:231–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamburger, V.1977“The developmental History of the Motor Neuron.” The F.O.Schmitt Lecture.Neurosciences Research program.Bulletin (Suppl.April)15:1–37.

  • Hamburger, V.1981“Goethe 's Zur Farbenlehre (St.Louis,Friends of the Washington University Library,1981).Reprinted in Hamburger,Neuroembryology,the Selected Papers (Boston, Birkha ¨user,1990),pp.414–417.

  • Hamburger, V.1984“Hilde Mangold,Co-discoverer of the Organizer.” Journal of the History of Biology 17:1–11.

  • Hamburger, V.1985“Hans Spemann,Nobel Laureate 1935” Trends in NeuroSciences 8:385–387.

  • Hamburger, V.1988a.The Heritage of Experimental Embryology.NY, Oxford University Press.

  • Hamburger, V.1988b.“The Ontogeny of Neuroembryology.” Journal of Neuroscience 8:3535–3540

  • Hamburger, V.1989“The Journey of a Neuroembryologist.” Annual Review of Neuroscience 12:1–12.

  • Hamburger, V.1990Neuroembryology,The Selected Papers (Boston, Birkha ¨user).

  • Hamburger, V.1992“Art in My Life” (Unpublished manuscript).Hamburger Papers,Marine Biological Laboratory/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Library,Woods Hole,MA.

  • Hamburger,V.1993a.“The History of the Discovery of the Nerve Growth Factor.” Journal of Neurobiology 24:893–897.

  • Hamburger,V.1993b.“Notes on Spemann 's Political Position.”

  • Hamburger,V.1996a.“Memories of Professor Hans Spemann 's Department of Zoology at the University of Freiburg,1920–1932” International Journal of Developmental Biology 40,59–62.

  • Hamburger,V.1996b.“Introduction:Johannes Holtfreter,Pioneer in Experimental Embryol-ogy.” Developmental Dynamics 205214 --216.

  • Hamburger,V.1996c.“Viktor Hamburger,”in L.R. Squire (ed.),History of Neuroscience in Autobiography,Vol.1(Washington,DC,Society for Neuroscience),pp.224–250.

  • Hamburger,V.1997“Wilhelm Roux:Visionary with a Blind Spot.” Journal of the History of Biology 30:229–238.

  • Hamburger,V. “History of the Discovery of Neuronal Death in Embryos.”Unpublished Memoir (Hamburger Papers).

  • Hamburger,V.1990“The Rise of Experimental Neuroembryology.” International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience 8:121–131.

  • Hamburger,V.and D. Rudnick.1940“On the Identi cation of Segregated Phenotypes in Progeny from Creeper Fowl Matings.” Genetics 25:215–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamburger, V.and R. Levi-Montalcini.1949“Proliferation,Differentiation and Degeneration in the Spinal Ganglia of the Chick Embryo under Normal and Experimental Conditions.” Journal of Experimental Zoology 111457–501.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamburger,V.1950“Some Aspects of Neuroembryology,”in P. Weiss (ed.),Genetic Neurology.Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

  • Harrington, A.1996Reenchanted Science:Holism in German Culture from Wilhelm II to Hitler.Princeton,NJ: Princeton University Press.

  • Harrison, R.G.1907“Observations on the Living,Developing Nerve Fiber,”Ana-tomical Record 1: 116–118;also Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 4:140–143.

  • Harwood, J.1993Styles of Scientific Thought.The German Genetics Community,1900– 1933.Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

  • Heidegger, M.1962 [1927 ].Being and Time [Sein und Zeit ].Translated by John Mac-Quarrie and Edward Robinson.London: SCM Press.

  • Kirk, D.L.and G.E. Allen.2001“Viktor Hamburger:A Prepared,Persistent,and Deserving Mind Favored by Many Fortuities.” Developmental Dynamics 222:545–551.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn, T.S.1962The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

  • Kunick, E.1929Heimatbuch des KreisesLandeshut.2 vols.Landeshut (Further publi-cation details not available).

  • Levi-Montalcini, R.1981“One of Hans Spemann 's pupils.” in Studies in Develop-mental Neurobiology.Essays in Honor of Viktor Hamburger.New York: Oxford University Press,pp.22–43

  • Levi-Montalcini, R.1988In Praise of Imperfection:My Life and Work.Translated by Luigi Attardi. New York: Basic Books.

  • Levi-Montalcini, R.1997The Saga of the Nerve Growth Factor (River Edge,NJ, World Scientific Publishing Co.)

  • Levi-Montalcini, R.and V. Hamburger.1951“Selective Growth-stimulating E.ects of Mouse Sarcoma on the Sensory and Sympathetic Nervous System of the Chick Embryo.” Journal of Experimental Zoology 116321–361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levi-Montalcini, R.and G. Levi.1942“Les Conse ´quences de la Destruction d' un Territoire d' innervation Pe ´riphe ´rique sur le De ´veloppement des Centres Nerveus Correspondants dans l' Embryon de Poulet,” Archives de Biologie 53:537–545.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levi-Montalcini, R.and G. Levi.1943“Recherches Quantitatives sur la Marche du Processus de Di.e ´renciation des Neurones dans les Ganglions Spinaux de l' Embryon de Poulet,” Archives de Biologie 54:191–206.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levi-Montalcini, R.,H. Meyer and V. Hamburger.1954“In vitro Experiments on the Effects of Mouse sarcomas 180 and 37 on the Spinal and Sympathetic Ganglia of the Chick Embryo.” Cancer Research 14:49–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lillie, F.R.1944The Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory.Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

  • Maienschein, J.1988“Whitman at Chicago:Establishing A Chicago Style of Biology?” in R. Rainger, K. R.Benson and J. Maienschein (eds.),The American Development of Biology.Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press,pp.151–182.

  • Maienschein, J.1989One Hundred Years Exploring Life;1888–1988.Boston: Jones and Bartlett.

  • Maienschein, J.1991Transforming Traditions in American Biology,1880–1915.Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

  • Mitman, G.1992The State of Nature.Ecology;Community;and American Social Thought,1900–1950.Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

  • Mitman, G.,J. Maienschein and A: Clarke (eds.).1993“Crossing Borderlands:Biology at Chicago.” Perspectives on Science 1.

  • Needham, J.1936Order and Life.New Haven: Yale University Press.

  • Oppenheim, R.W.2001“Viktor Hamburger (1900–2001):Journey of a Neuro-embryologist to the End of the Millenium and Beyond.” Neuron 31:179–190.

  • Popkin, R.H.(ed).1999The Columbia History of Western Philosophy.New York: Columbia University Press.Article, “Martin Heidigger.”

  • Provine, R.R.2001“In the Trenches with Viktor Hamburger and Rita Levi-Mon-talcini (1965–1974):A Student 's Perspective.” International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience 19:143–149.

  • Purves, D.and J. Sanes.1987“The 1986 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.” Trends in Neurosciences 10:231–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards, R.J.2002The Romantic Conception of Life.Science and Philosophy in the Age of Goethe.Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

  • Shorey, E.1909“The E.ect of the Destruction of Peripheral Areas on the Differentiation of the Neuroblasts.” Journal of Experimental Zoology 7:25–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smocovitis, V.B.1996Unifying Biology:The Evolutionary Synthesis and Evolutionary Biology.Princeton: Princeton University Press.

  • Spemann, H.1901“U ¨ber Correlationen in der Entwicklung des Auges.” Verhandlungen der Anatomische Gesellschaft 15:61–79.

  • Spemann, H.1923“Zur theorie der tierischen Entwicklung.” Rektoratsrede.Freiburg:Speyer und Kaerner:1–16.

  • Spemann, H.1927“Neue Arbeiten u ¨ber Organisatoren in der tierischen Entwicklung.” Naturwissenschaften 15:946–951.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spemann, H.1938Embryonic Development and Induction.New Haven: Yale University Press.

  • Spemann, H.1943Forschung und Leben,F.W. Spemann (ed.),Stuttgart:J.Engelhorn,Nachf. Adolf Spemann.

  • Willier, B.H.,P. Weiss and V. Hamburger.1955Analysis of Development.Philadelphia: W.B.Saunders.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA

    Garland E. Allen

Authors
  1. Garland E. Allen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Allen, G.E. A Pact with the Embryo: Viktor Hamburger, Holistic and Mechanistic Philosophy in the Development of Neuroembryology, 1927–1955. Journal of the History of Biology 37, 421–475 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10739-004-4448-2

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10739-004-4448-2

Search

Navigation