CHAPTER II 
VESALIUS AND THE OVERTHROW OF AUTHORITY 
IN SCIENCE 
VesAaLius, although an anatomist, is to be recognized in a 
broad sense as one of the founders of biology. When one 
is attempting to investigate animal and plant life, not only 
must he become acquainted with the external appearance of 
living organisms, but also must acquire early a knowledge 
of their structure, without which other facts relating to their 
lives can not be disclosed. Anatomy, which is the science 
of the structure of organized beings, is therefore so funda- 
mental that we find ourselves involved in tracing the history 
of its rise as onc part of the story of biology. But it is not 
enough to know how animals and plants are constructed; 
we must also know something about the purpose of the 
structures and of the hfe that courses through them, and, 
accordingly, after considering the rise of anatomy, we must 
take a similar view of its counterpart, physiology. 
The great importance of Vesalius in the history of science 
lies in the fact that he overthrew adherence to authority as 
the method of ascertaining truth, and substituted therefor 
observation and reason. Several of his forerunners had 
tried to accomplish the same end, but they had failed. He 
was indebted to them as every man is indebted to his fore- 
bears, but at the same time we can not fail to see that Vesalius 
was worthy of the victory. He was more resolute and force- 
ful than any of his predecessors. He was one of those rare 
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