Max Verworn
Encyclopedia
Max Richard Constantin Verworn (November 4, 1863 - November 23, 1921) was a German physiologist who was a native of Berlin
.
He studied medicine and natural sciences in Berlin, and later moved to Jena
, where he furthered his studies with Ernst Haeckel
(1834–1919) and William Thierry Preyer
(1841–1897). In 1895 he became a professor at the University of Jena, and in 1901 a professor at the physiological institute at Göttingen
. Later, as successor to Eduard Pflüger, he became a professor at the University of Bonn
(1910). In 1902 he founded the journal Zeitschrift für Allgemeine Physiologie (Journal of General Physiology), and was its publisher until his death in 1921.
Max Verworn is remembered for his research in the field of experimental physiology, and especially for his work involving cellular physiology
. He did extensive studies of the elementary physiological processes that take place in muscle tissue, nerve fiber
s and sensory organs. He also conducted research in the fields of phylogenesis and ontogenesis, and is credited for introducing the concept of "conditionalism" to describe a state or process determined by totality of its processes. He was influenced by Ernst Haeckel's theory of evolutionism
, and postulated that physiological phenomena observed in higher animals may be recognizable in simple life-forms.
He also conducted investigations into human creativity and thought processes. In his studies of art, he believed that there were two types of style and aims of artistic representation. These two concepts he called "physioplastic" and "ideoplastic". He described physioplastic as direct reproduction of the object or its immediate image in memory, and ideoplastic as an intutitive attempt to create what the eye sees.
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
He studied medicine and natural sciences in Berlin, and later moved to Jena
Jena
Jena is a university city in central Germany on the river Saale. It has a population of approx. 103,000 and is the second largest city in the federal state of Thuringia, after Erfurt.-History:Jena was first mentioned in an 1182 document...
, where he furthered his studies with Ernst Haeckel
Ernst Haeckel
The "European War" became known as "The Great War", and it was not until 1920, in the book "The First World War 1914-1918" by Charles à Court Repington, that the term "First World War" was used as the official name for the conflict.-Research:...
(1834–1919) and William Thierry Preyer
William Thierry Preyer
William Thierry Preyer was an English-born physiologist who worked in Germany.-Biography:Preyer was born in Rusholme at Manchester. He studied physiology and chemistry at Heidelberg, where he received his doctorate in 1862...
(1841–1897). In 1895 he became a professor at the University of Jena, and in 1901 a professor at the physiological institute at Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
. Later, as successor to Eduard Pflüger, he became a professor at the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
(1910). In 1902 he founded the journal Zeitschrift für Allgemeine Physiologie (Journal of General Physiology), and was its publisher until his death in 1921.
Max Verworn is remembered for his research in the field of experimental physiology, and especially for his work involving cellular physiology
Cell physiology
Cell physiology is the biological study of the cell's mechanism and interaction in its environment. The term "physiology" refers to all the normal functions that take place in a living organism. Absorption of water by roots, production of food in the leaves, and growth of shoots towards light are...
. He did extensive studies of the elementary physiological processes that take place in muscle tissue, nerve fiber
Nerve fiber
A nerve fiber is a threadlike extension of a nerve cell and consists of an axon and myelin sheath in the nervous system. There are nerve fibers in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. A nerve fiber may be myelinated and/or unmyelinated. In the central nervous system , myelin...
s and sensory organs. He also conducted research in the fields of phylogenesis and ontogenesis, and is credited for introducing the concept of "conditionalism" to describe a state or process determined by totality of its processes. He was influenced by Ernst Haeckel's theory of evolutionism
Evolutionism
Evolutionism refers to the biological concept of evolution, specifically to a widely held 19th century belief that organisms are intrinsically bound to increase in complexity. The belief was extended to include cultural evolution and social evolution...
, and postulated that physiological phenomena observed in higher animals may be recognizable in simple life-forms.
He also conducted investigations into human creativity and thought processes. In his studies of art, he believed that there were two types of style and aims of artistic representation. These two concepts he called "physioplastic" and "ideoplastic". He described physioplastic as direct reproduction of the object or its immediate image in memory, and ideoplastic as an intutitive attempt to create what the eye sees.
Selected written works
- Psychophysiologische Protistenstudien, 1889
- Die Bewegung der lebendigen Substanz, 1892
- Allgemeine Physiologie, 1895
- Die Biogenhypothese, 1903
- Naturwissenschaft und Weltanschauung, 1904
- Die Mechanik des Geisteslebens, 1907
- Zur Psychologie der primitiven Kunst, 1907
- Die Frage nach den Grenzen der Erkenntnis, 1908