title: [Pattern and process: complementarity in biological thinking].
abstract: Evolutionary theory is said to explain order in nature by a historical process. An analysis of the writings of E. Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire shows, however, that pattern and process in nature are not based on simple, i.e. unreflected observation, but rather constitute alternative and incompatible ways of interpretation of observations according to certain methodological rules. It is concluded that pattern and process are complementary views of nature, pattern providing process with a direction, process giving an explanation for pattern.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001695:Biology; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D013850:Thinking
vernacular_title: Muster und Prozess: Komplementarität im biologischen Denken.