The Department of the History of Life Sciences seeks to philosophically and historically investigate the conceptual and thematic frameworks surrounding the idea of life. Its mission is to enhance the scholarly quality of research in this field by examining the life sciences' emergence, development, and transformation within their appropriate historical contexts, free from anachronistic interpretations. In line with the objectives of the Institute for the History of Science, the department emphasizes contributions from the Islamic scientific tradition while also exploring their interactions with the Mediterranean and other major civilizations.
Although “life sciences” represent a broad field of inquiry, they are often narrowly equated with biology. However, modern biology, which does not encompass the entire spectrum of the life sciences, emerged only in the early 19th century. Tracing the “history of biology” backward into earlier periods is methodologically challenging, as the term “life” (derived from psyche, meaning “soul”) refers to a phenomenon understood quite differently in pre-modern contexts. While contemporary biology tends to analyze living beings primarily regarding their physical properties, pre-modern scientific traditions engaged with living organisms as philosophical and metaphysical subjects.
While the life sciences typically adhere to conventional historical periodizations, they can also be examined through the relationship between the earliest living entities and the natural world they inhabit. In ancient civilizations before Aristotle, animals and plants were discussed across religious, literary, and practical domains. However, with Aristotle, living beings became subjects of systematic theoretical inquiry. His scientific-philosophical corpus exerted its influence well into the 19th century, extending to Darwin. In Aristotle’s classification of knowledge, plants and animals were studied under the umbrella of natural sciences (ṭabīʿiyyāt), which also included fields such as medicine, zoology, botany, veterinary science, and agriculture.
Within this intellectual-historical framework, the Department of the History of Life Sciences offers comprehensive Master's and PhD programs. Prospective students will benefit from an interdisciplinary research environment rooted in the history of science, engaging both with the broader field and the specific history of the life sciences. Our programs promote integrative approaches and welcome scholars from diverse academic backgrounds—including historians, philosophers, biologists, physicians, ethicists, and others interested in the historical and philosophical study of life and living systems.
We especially welcome applications in the following research areas:
- Historical and philosophical studies across all life science disciplines
- History of medicine
- History of pharmacy
- History of zoology
- History of botany
- History of veterinary medicine
- Aristotelian traditions in life sciences
- History of agriculture