Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
totally incorrect to interpret the constitution of a constant internal
environment as a finalist or teleonomic process caused by a prop-
erty intrinsic to living beings endowed with the prior intention of
creating individuals.
“In constant life, the living organism seems free, and vital mani-
festations appear to be produced and directed by an inner vital prin-
ciple free from external physicochemical conditions; this apearance
is an
illusion.
33
On the contrary, it is particularly in the mecha-
nism of constant or free life that these close relations
34
exhibit
themselves in their full clarity”
(LPL, p. 91).
Bernard speaks of illusion because the constancy of the internal
environment is a mechanism of adaptation of the organism to the
environment, in relation to which and precisely because of it, it
remains dependent. The living organism only exists in relation to
the environment and the constitution of the internal environment is
a consequence of this relationship, which requires mechanisms at
the interface between the organism and its environment perma-
nently compensating for variations in the latter. This indicates an
increase in the complexity of the relationship to the environment
and not absolute independence expressing an internal teleonomic
property, inherent in living organisms.
In addition, once the internal environment has been formed dur-
ing embryogenesis, the organs lead an autonomous life there. This
very radical aspect of Bernardism has been completely overshad-
owed by modern biology, which considers that the organism is
governed centrally by the genetic programme. Bernard declares, on
the contrary, that its parts are autonomous within the internal
environment.
35
This is a very important point which he reasserts
33
Original text not in bold.
34
With the environment. (Not in original text.)
35
This principle is based on experimental observations likewise described by
Bernard. For example, organs are anaesthetised by the cold directly by the effect of
the temperature: the anaesthesia is not controlled by the central nervous system.
