EDITORIAL PREFACE TO A NEW CENTURY OF «THEORETICAL BIOLOGY FORUM»

摘要

As we enter into the next era of Theoretical Biology Forum, and as we approach our 100th anniversary in 2019, this is obviously a time for reflection. Theoretical biology is by its very nature, a very broad discipline. And it typically attracts the interests of researchers outside of traditional disciplines. By its nature therefore, it is a minority discipline. The majority of biologists focus on the practice of research i.e. the «doing of science», as opposed to the thinking about it more broadly. With each major technical development there is an increased focus on the methods as opposed to the ideas that define any particular field of interest. When Theoretical Biology Forum was born in 1919 these disciplines were far more in balance. One has only to read the influential books of that time such as E. S. Russell's Form and Function which was originally published by J. Murray: London in 1916. There are 20 chapters. The first nine focus on the ideas of people, from the beginnings of comparative anatomy with Aristotle, then Cuvier, Goethe, St Hilaire, to Richard Owen, von Baer. The remaining 11 chapters focused on matters such as Cell Theory, Lamarck's Laws and the «Organism as an Historical Being». Of course, one might say, quite rightly, that there were few methodologies and experimental results to consider at that time. Nevertheless, it is clear that a strong focus and intellectual concentration was brought to bear on the larger ideas of that time. And I would challenge readers to study a little of that wonderful book and not be impressed by the clarity of thought which still has obvious implications for the study of theoretical biology today.