On Parts and Wholes in Living Things: Harvey, Descartes, and the Heartbeat

On Parts and Wholes in Living Things: Harvey, Descartes, and the Heartbeat

Audio recording of a lecture given by Annapolis Dean Suzy Paalman on November 15, 2024 as part of the Dean's Lecture & Concert Series. The Dean's Office has provided this description of the event: "William Harvey and René Descartes famously disagreed in their accounts of what the heart is doing as it gives its characteristic beat. Both authors recognize that the heart alternates between squeezing and opening up. Harvey posits that the beat occurs as the heart squeezes closed while Descartes believes the beat happens as the heart opens up. Both have access to similar observations. How is it that they come to opposite conclusions? I'll discuss how their differing views of how to think about living things likely play a role in this disagreement. I'll examine what we have learned since their time about how the heart beats. Finally, given what we've learned, I'll ask the question: What can we say about the nature of living things?"

Santa Fe, NM

2024-11-15

Meem Library has been given permission to make this item available online.

sound

mp3

English

SF_PaalmanS_On_Parts_and_Wholes_in_Living_Things_2024-11-15

m4a

01:06:36