Controlling Life: Jacques Loeb & the Engineering Ideal in Biology (Monographs on the History & Philosophy of Biology) [Hardcover]

Philip J. Pauly (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195042441 | ISBN-13: 978-0195042443 | Publication Date: April 16, 1987 | Edition: 1ST

The biologist Jacques Loeb (1859-1924) helped to shape the practice of modern biological research through his radical emphasis on reductionist experimentation. This biography traces his career and convincingly argues that Loeb's desire to control organisms, manifested in studies of both reproduction and animal behavior, contributed to a new self-image for biologists. The author places Loeb's experiments and the controversies they generated in their intellectual and institutional contexts, tracing his influence on the development of behaviorism, genetics, and reproductive biology.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Superb . . . . Rarely does a scientific biography so clearly illumine deep and long-lasting ideological differences in the conduct of scientific work." --The New York Review of Books

"In this highly imaginative and meticulously researched biography, the emphasis is not so much on Loeb's more striking achievements, but on the extent to which he pioneered and proselytized a new approach to living matter--called, by Pauly, the 'engineering ideal'....A fascinating and scholarly book that blends detailed archival research with sensitive contextual analysis of laboratories and university systems in the U.S. and Germany. It both complements and contrasts with other studies of scientists from this period."--The Times Higher Education Supplement

"This extremely well written and well researched book provides a comprehensive history of one of biology's most important figures....A rich mine of information and an extremely thought-provoking analysis of the engineering ideal and of the life of one of its founding fathers. Controlling Life is an excellent example of the relevance of the history of biology to the understanding of the foundations of modern biology."--Cell

"Few scientists of the past century have excited more passion and popular interest than Jacques Loeb...It is remarkable that Loeb has received little attention from biographers; it is more remarkable that this, the first book-length biography of Loeb, succeeds so richly in capturing not only the details of his life but also the meaning and implications of his work...Loeb's career touches upon such familiar issues in the history of science as the development of experimental biology, the conflict between mechanism and vitalism, and the rise of American universities as centers of research. Pauly handles these with a deftness and good judgment that inspire admiration . . . . Pauly's ambitious and rewarding effort to understand the origins of biotechnology deserves applause and a wide readership." --Science

"Pauly does a masterful job of presenting Loeb in his scientific and cultural context....The book is a model of scholarly integrity and intuition, and will inspire historians and biologists alike."--The Scientist

"This highly topical and fascinating book deals essentially with the historical roots of biotechnology. Pauly weaves a rich fabric by integrating Loeb's career and his ideas into the social and political world of science and medicine in late 19th-century Germany and early 20th-century America....Recommended for college and university history of science collections."--Choice

"Pauly's study of the life of the physiologist Jacques Loeb and of his influence in the United States is a remarkable tour de force which opens up a fresh chapter in the history of modern biology. The style is lively, the organization clear, and the impressive support from documents is successfully compressed within the notes so as to relieve the pressure on the main text." --Nature

"A superb portrait." --Hastings Center Report

"An excellent, scholarly biography." --New Scientist

"Pauly's book brings that rare combination of excellent narrative, provocative subject matter, a well-argued thesis, and a wealth of solid informative data. This new Oxford monographic series has produced a real gem in this well-edited and virtually error-free volume, which at most any educated reader should find extremely valuable and enjoyable to read." --Journal of the History of Biology

About the Author

Philip J. Pauly is an Assistant Professor of History at Rutgers University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 260 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 1ST edition (April 16, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195042441
• ISBN-13: 978-0195042443
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,678,604 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5.0 out of 5 stars A little known facet of Monterey's Cannery Row history, June 24, 2010

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This review is from: Controlling Life: Jacques Loeb & the Engineering Ideal in Biology (Monographs on the History & Philosophy of Biology) (Hardcover)

This book has good photos and a lot of info about Jacques Loeb's activities in Monterey.

Dr. Morris Herzstein was a physician and real estate speculator who was a benefactor to UC Berekley. He endowed UC Berkeley with the Herzstein Research Laboratory which was for the sole use of Jacques Loeb (the land was purchased from the Pacific Improvement Company).


March 1915 The Popular Science Monthly (mistakenly locates the lab in pacific grove)

"The Herzstein laboratory, also at Pacific Grove, is quite different in aim and scope of activities from the Hopkins. It was a gift to the department of physiology of the University of California by Dr. Morris Herzstein, of San Francisco, the primary purpose of which was to provide a sea-side working place where Professor Jacques Loeb could prosecute certain of his investigations.
In keeping with the relatively simple technic of the studies which have made this biologist famous, the Herzstein laboratory is small and inexpensive. It is a plain, one-story wooden building, about forty-five feet square, divided into three fairly good-sized rooms, two small store rooms and a dark room. It is provided with an alternating electric current, and running fresh water, but not with gas or salt water. The small quantities of sea water needed are brought to the laboratory from the nearby sea by hand. A good supply of glassware for experimentation on simple animals is always on hand.
As already indicated, the laboratory is operated in close connection, so far as research is concerned, with the department of physiology at Berkeley. No provision is made or is hardly possible for formal instruction or for any considerable number of investigators, or for much range of investigation.
At present Professor S. S. Maxwell, as head of the department of physiology, also has charge of the laboratory. Professor Loeb's use of it has not ceased, although he has severed his connection with the University of California- He has spent considerable time at Pacific Grove during the last two years."

The Lab was active from 1905 to1915. Jacques Loeb worked there from 1905 to 1910. The original plan was that the entire length of Oceanview Blvd was to eventually be acquired for the Lab. However the 1906 San Francisco earthquake also sent tremors through the financial world as well as San Francisco. Dr. Herzstein could no longer afford to keep the lab operating let alone add to the real estate (even though the Pacific Improvement Company offered to donate the rest of the land to try to keep out the nascent seafood processing industry). In 1917 it was leased to Knute Hovden.


Annual Report of the President of the University on behalf of the Regents to His Excellency the Governor of the State of California, 1917-1918
1918 Published by the University of California University of California Press Berkeley

"Lease to K. Hovden Company

On October 9, 1917, The Regents approved a lease dated September 11, 1917, to the K. Hovden Company of Lot No. 14 in Block No. 1, "Map of the north half of the town of New Monterey," together with the buildings and improvements thereon, for eight years, from September 1, 1917, to August 31, 1925, for the total rent of $800, payable in advance in equal installments of $100 each on the first day of September in each year during the term of the lease, commencing September 1, 1917."

It was finally sold to him in 1920


University of California Bulletin Third Series Vol. XIII, No 7 1918-1919 January 1920

"FEBRUARY, 1920
Adoption of Semester System at Southern Branch:
The semester system was instituted at the Southern Branch of the University for the academic year 1920-21.
Sale of Herzstein Property:
The action of the President and Assistant Secretary was approved and confirmed in having executed a deed to K. Hovden Company for the Herzstein property in New Monterey."


Jacques Loeb ( [...]) was one of the most famous scientists of his day. He was nominated for the Noble Prize several times for his work in parthenogenesis that he did here (the Wikipedia article incorrectly states that this work was done at Woods Hole. His books clearly state that the work was done in New Monterey). He used to party around in Carmel with both Sinclair Lewis ( [...]) and Upton Sinclair ([...]). The character of Max Gottleib in Sinclair Lewis' novel Arrowsmith ([...] ) was modeled after him. He used to give lectures to various local groups championing the rights of Chinese and Japanese immigrants. He hired the son of a local fisherman to collect specimens for him. The boy later earned his degree and became a professor at the University of Oregon's Biology Department. The alternate names for Point Alones and Carmel Point are Point Loeb. ( [...])