International symposium
Cognition and Interpretation

Institute of philosophy,
Zagreb, October 10-11, 2003

Predrag Šustar (Rijeka)
Kant’s Organism Concept

The scientific practice of biological sciences refers more than frequently to the organism concept. This concept also stands at the center of philosophical considerations on the living world and related scientific fields. Essentially, there are two major philosophical positions on this issue: (1) the organism concept as specific defining characteristic of the living world, and (2) the organism concept as methodological device for biological research.
In the history of philosophy on the organism concept, Kant’s position represents one of the main phasis. In his rather ambiguous considerations, we may distinguish three definitions: the organism as “organized being” (organisiertes Wesen), as “natural purpose” (Naturzweck), and, finally, the organism as “guiding-thread” (Leitfaden) for biological research.
In this paper, I’m going to argue in favour of operational reading of Kant’s position. Besides significance in the strict historiographical sense, i.e. the so-called “methodological turn” in Kant’s late philosophy, the proposed reading acquires an additional significance in the light of recent operational tendencies on the organism concept.