--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For in the ever-repeated origination of…" description: "\"“For in the ever-repeated origination of highly organized individuals from an infinitesimal germ, the working-out of a prearranged plan of growth and d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/hans-jonas-45994_biology_for-in-the-ever-repeated-origination-of_1578111.jpg" --- # For in the ever-repeated origination of highly organized… ![“For in the ever-repeated origination of highly organized individuals from an infinitesimal germ, the working-out of a prearranged plan of growth and development seems obvious. Thus the very idea of “development” which the facts of reproduction suggested stood in the way of applying to the living…” quote by Hans Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/hans-jonas-45994_biology_for-in-the-ever-repeated-origination-of_1578111.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/hans-jonas-45994_biology_for-in-the-ever-repeated-origination-of_1578111.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/hans-jonas-45994_biology_for-in-the-ever-repeated-origination-of_1578111.jpg) > ““For in the ever-repeated origination of highly organized individuals from an infinitesimal germ, the working-out of a prearranged plan of growth and development seems obvious. Thus the very idea of “development” which the facts of reproduction suggested stood in the way of applying to the living kingdom the same categories of genesis that were applied on mechanistic principles to reality at large. Indeed, the term “evolution” denoted originally just this phenomenon of individual genesis, and by no means the genesis of species. On the contrary, “evolution” in its literally sense presupposes the existence of the species, because it is precisely this which, in the person of parent individual, provides the prearranged plan to be “evolved” in every given case of generation. What evolves is not the model itself but its re-embodiment in each generation from germ to maturity: what evolves was involved in the germ, its potency there derived from its act in the progenitor. In terms of cause-effect relation, then, the parent accounts not only for its offspring’s existence, but also for its offspring’s form by its own possession of this selfsame form. This is a pattern very different from mechanistic chain of cause and effect and strongly suggest the operation of a causa formalis in addition to a causa effciens, or the existence of a substantial form, which were otherwise banned from the whole system of natural explanation. In short, the very concept of development was opposed to that of mechanics and still implied some version of other of classic ontology.”” [Hans Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-jonas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Development follows a pre‑arranged internal plan, not random mechanistic cause. **In simple terms:** Life grows according to an inherent blueprint. Key Takeaway Recognize innate patterns in growth. Themes ontology development philosophy Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical theoretical When to use this quote - education - personal growth - scientific research Key Concepts substantial form causa formalis teleology Questions to Reflect On - What innate patterns guide your development? - How does this view affect your understanding of change? A Different Perspective The concept may conflict with modern evolutionary theory. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) [Cause and effect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cause-and-effect/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Growth And Development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth-and-development/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Reproduction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reproduction/) [Teleology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teleology/) ## Related quotes > [In the beginning, there were no reasons; there were only causes. Nothing had a purpose, nothing has so much as a function; there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/in-the-beginning-there-were-no-reasons-there-were-only-causes-nothing/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [Teleology is a lady without whom no biologist can live. Yet he is ashamed to show himself with her in public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-wilhelm-von-brucke/teleology-is-a-lady-without-whom-no-biologist-can-live-yet-he-is/) Ernst Wilhelm von Brucke > [“That which struck the present writer most forcibly on his first perusal of the 'Origin of Species' was the conviction that Teleology, as commonly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-henry-huxley/that-which-struck-the-present-writer-most-forcibly-on-his-first/) [Thomas Henry Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-henry-huxley/) > [Evolution works by selection, not by instruction. 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He who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-spengler/it-is-life-not-the-individual-that-is-conscienceless-the-essential/) [Oswald Spengler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-spengler/) > [I would say that teleology is theology, and that God is not a "because," but rather an "in order to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/i-would-say-that-teleology-is-theology-and-that-god-is-not-a-because/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [“The whole of the argument of the advocate of the wider teleology is that God wanted the higher type. But if that is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chapman-cohen/the-whole-of-the-argument-of-the-advocate-of-the-wider-teleology-is/) [Chapman Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chapman-cohen/) > [Darwin's book is very important and serves me as a basis in natural science for the class struggle in history. 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And as the eerie illumination of science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-denton/in-the-discoveries-of-science-the-harmony-of-the-spheres-is-also-now/) [Michael Denton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-denton/) > [Life is teleology par excellence; it is the intrinsic striving towards a goal, and the living organism is a system of directed aims which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/life-is-teleology-par-excellence-it-is-the-intrinsic-striving-towards/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [“According to Teleology, each organism is like a rifle bullet fired straight at a mark; according to Darwin , organisms are like grapeshot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-henry-huxley/according-to-teleology-each-organism-is-like-a-rifle-bullet-fired/) [Thomas Henry Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-henry-huxley/) > [“I am drawn to a fourth alternative, natural teleology, or teleological bias, as an account of the existence of the biological possibilities on which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-nagel/i-am-drawn-to-a-fourth-alternative-natural-teleology-or-teleological/) [Thomas Nagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-nagel/) > [Teleology is like a mistress to a biologist: he cannot live without her but he's unwilling to be seen with her in public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-b-s-haldane/teleology-is-like-a-mistress-to-a-biologist-he-cannot-live-without/) [John B. S. Haldane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-b-s-haldane/) ## More by Hans Jonas > [“The alien is that which stems from elsewhere and does not belong here . . . The stranger who does not know the ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-jonas/the-alien-is-that-which-stems-from-elsewhere-and-does-not-belong-here/) [Hans Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-jonas/) > [We need wisdom the most when we believe in it the least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-jonas/we-need-wisdom-the-most-when-we-believe-in-it-the-least/) [Hans Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-jonas/) > [“That nature does not care, one way or the other, is the true abyss. 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Every new dimension of world-response...means another modality for God's trying out his hidden essence and discovering himself through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-jonas/whatever-variety-evolution-brings-forth-every-new-dimension-of-world/) [Hans Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-jonas/) [Explore all 7 Hans Jonas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-jonas/) ## More Biology quotes > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [“Genetics is a science full of gods, Mr. Sanchez.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valeria-luiselli/genetics-is-a-science-full-of-gods-mr-sanchez/) [Valeria Luiselli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valeria-luiselli/) > [We became Homo sapiens not that long ago, from the scientific perspective, and we've retained a lot of our beast nature. 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It intrigues me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spottiswoode/i-think-the-ethics-and-morals-of-genetic-engineering-are-very/) [Roger Spottiswoode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spottiswoode/) > [Biochemists and biologists who adhere blindly to the Darwinism theory search for results that will be in agreement with their theories and consequently orient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-paul-grasse/biochemists-and-biologists-who-adhere-blindly-to-the-darwinism-theory/) [Pierre-Paul Grasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-paul-grasse/) > [“A note of caution: epigenetics is also on the verge of transforming into a dangerous idea. Epigenetic modifications of genes can potentially superpose historical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/a-note-of-caution-epigenetics-is-also-on-the-verge-of-transforming/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [Natural history is not taught in seminary. 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