Driesch

DRIESCH, Hans (Hans Driesch, born in 1867), one of the foremost representatives of modern vitalism, German biologist and philosopher, at present professor of philosophy and director of the philosophical institute in Leipzig, member of the Academy of Sciences in Heidelberg and president of the English Society for Psychical Research (Society f. psych. research). Having begun with very large and interesting research in the field of experimental embryology, of which he is one of the founders, D. in his further activity turns to substantiating the doctrine of modern vitalism (see). D. achieves great success, receives invitations to North America, where he delivers a cycle of lectures, and upon returning to Europe devotes himself entirely to the field of philosophy and psychology. The principal works of D.-see the literature to the article Vitalism.