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Quote by Jacques Monod

“It necessarily follows that chance alone is at the source of every innovation, and of all creation in the biosphere. Pure chance, absolutely free but blind, at the very root of the stupendous edifice of evolution: this central concept of modern biology is no longer one among many other possible or even conceivable hypotheses. It is today the sole conceivable hypothesis, the only one that squares with observed and tested fact. And nothing warrants the supposition - or the hope - that on this score our position is ever likely to be revised. There is no scientific concept, in any of the sciences, more destructive of anthropocentrism than this one.”

Quote by Jacques Monod

Work

Chance and necessity: an essay on the natural philosophy of modern biology

This essay critically examines the concepts of chance and necessity in the context of modern biology. It investigates how these forces shape the evolution of life on Earth, offering a philosophical perspective on the natural processes that govern biological systems. more

Author

Jacques Monod
Jacques Monod

A renowned biologist and French Nobel laureate, Jacques Monod is known for his research in genetics and molecular biology. He made significant contributions to the discovery of gene regulation and the genetic code. more

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