an epistemological side-blow

Mechanocythere

The caption reads: Fig. 2. The compleat ostracode, Mechanocythere. Drawn for Richard H. Benson by L. B. Isham and reproduced with the kind permission of Dr. Benson."The purpose of this drawing", writes Dr. Benson (personal communication, 1969) "was to underline the mechanistic thinking that most zoologists use. I think the analogy is quite appropriate and scientifically reasonable, but I'm not sure that this is frankly admitted by most of our colleagues."

Figure from Gould 1970: Evolutionary Paleontology and the Science of Form. Earth-Science Reviews, 6, 77-119. Publication on this website authorized by Elsevier License # 2802031434222.