Lawrence Joseph Henderson
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Joseph Henderson (June 3, 1878, Lynn, Massachusetts
– February 10, 1942, Cambridge, Massachusetts
) was a physiologist, chemist
, biologist
, philosopher, and sociologist. He became one of the leading biochemists of the first decades of the 20th century.
Lawrence Henderson graduated from Harvard College
in 1898 and from Harvard Medical School
in 1902, receiving the M. D. (Medical Doctor) degree cum laude. Then followed two years in chemical research at the University of Strasbourg
with advanced scientific training in Franz Hofmeister
's physiological laboratory. He became professor of biological chemistry, and later professor of chemistry, in Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was also introduced into philosophy and sociology by faculty members of Harvard University. He established some institutes in Harvard, especially the Fatigue Laboratory for physiological and sociological research on fatigue with the support of the Harvard Business School
, and the Harvard Medical School
, and he became the director.
Henderson investigated acid-base regulation (1906-1920). He found that acid-base balance is regulated by buffer systems of the blood in complex coordination with respiration, the lung
, red blood cells, and with the kidneys. After him is named the Henderson equation and the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation
. In addition, he described blood gas transport and the general physiology of blood as physico-chemical system (1920-1932). He invented and constructed new charts, nomograms, with the help of P. M. d'Ocagne. He introduced nomograms into physiology and biology as well.
The consequental inter-relations of various factors were shown in his book Blood in more than one hundred nomograms.
In his classical book The Fitness of the Environment
(1913) we find "an inquiry into the biological significance of the properties of matter" (Henderson). He saw the properties of matter and the course of cosmic evolution intimately related to the structure of the living being and to its activities. He concluded: "the whole evolutionary process, both cosmic and organic, is one, and the biologist may now rightly regard the universe in its very essence as biocentric".
As a sociologist (1932-1942) he applied the functionalism of physiological regulation to the phenomena of social behavior basing on his concept of social systems
. He described social systems with the help of the sociology of Vilfredo Pareto
. In contrast to Pareto, Henderson applied the concept of social systems to all disciplines that study the meanings communicated in interactions between two or more persons acting in roles or role-sets. Henderson influenced many Harvard sociologists, especially Talcott Parsons
, George C. Homans
, Robert K. Merton
, and Elton Mayo
who all became pioneers in sociology or psychology. Henderson was instrumental in promoting Talcott Parsons career at Harvard despite Pitirim Sorokin
's opposition. He also discussed intensively with Parsons the methodological chapters of Talcott Parsons "The Structure" of Social Action" (1937) at the time when Parsons was working on the raw manuscript.
Henderson's investigations had their inception and consummation in the philosopher's chair. In spite of his diversity of interests, his work exhibits in retrospect a fundamental unity; his career was largely devoted to the study of the organization of the organism, the universe, and society.
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
– February 10, 1942, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
) was a physiologist, chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
, biologist
Biologist
A biologist is a scientist devoted to and producing results in biology through the study of life. Typically biologists study organisms and their relationship to their environment. Biologists involved in basic research attempt to discover underlying mechanisms that govern how organisms work...
, philosopher, and sociologist. He became one of the leading biochemists of the first decades of the 20th century.
Lawrence Henderson graduated from Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1898 and from Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
in 1902, receiving the M. D. (Medical Doctor) degree cum laude. Then followed two years in chemical research at the University of Strasbourg
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
with advanced scientific training in Franz Hofmeister
Franz Hofmeister
Franz Hofmeister was an early protein scientist, and is famous for his studies of salts that influence the solubility and conformational stability of proteins...
's physiological laboratory. He became professor of biological chemistry, and later professor of chemistry, in Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was also introduced into philosophy and sociology by faculty members of Harvard University. He established some institutes in Harvard, especially the Fatigue Laboratory for physiological and sociological research on fatigue with the support of the Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
, and the Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
, and he became the director.
Henderson investigated acid-base regulation (1906-1920). He found that acid-base balance is regulated by buffer systems of the blood in complex coordination with respiration, the lung
Lung
The lung is the essential respiration organ in many air-breathing animals, including most tetrapods, a few fish and a few snails. In mammals and the more complex life forms, the two lungs are located near the backbone on either side of the heart...
, red blood cells, and with the kidneys. After him is named the Henderson equation and the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation
Henderson-Hasselbalch equation
In chemistry, the Henderson–Hasselbalch equation describes the derivation of pH as a measure of acidity in biological and chemical systems...
. In addition, he described blood gas transport and the general physiology of blood as physico-chemical system (1920-1932). He invented and constructed new charts, nomograms, with the help of P. M. d'Ocagne. He introduced nomograms into physiology and biology as well.
The consequental inter-relations of various factors were shown in his book Blood in more than one hundred nomograms.
In his classical book The Fitness of the Environment
The fitness of the environment
The Fitness of the Environment: An Inquiry into the Biological Significance of the Properties of Matter is a 1913 book written by Lawrence Joseph Henderson. In the book, Henderson discusses the importance of water and the environment with a respect to living things...
(1913) we find "an inquiry into the biological significance of the properties of matter" (Henderson). He saw the properties of matter and the course of cosmic evolution intimately related to the structure of the living being and to its activities. He concluded: "the whole evolutionary process, both cosmic and organic, is one, and the biologist may now rightly regard the universe in its very essence as biocentric".
As a sociologist (1932-1942) he applied the functionalism of physiological regulation to the phenomena of social behavior basing on his concept of social systems
Social systems
Social system is a central term in sociological systems theory. The term draws a line to ecosystem, biological organisms, psychical systems and technical systems. They all form the environment of social systems. Minimum requirements for a social system is interaction of at least two personal...
. He described social systems with the help of the sociology of Vilfredo Pareto
Vilfredo Pareto
Vilfredo Federico Damaso Pareto , born Wilfried Fritz Pareto, was an Italian engineer, sociologist, economist, political scientist and philosopher. He made several important contributions to economics, particularly in the study of income distribution and in the analysis of individuals' choices....
. In contrast to Pareto, Henderson applied the concept of social systems to all disciplines that study the meanings communicated in interactions between two or more persons acting in roles or role-sets. Henderson influenced many Harvard sociologists, especially Talcott Parsons
Talcott Parsons
Talcott Parsons was an American sociologist who served on the faculty of Harvard University from 1927 to 1973....
, George C. Homans
George C. Homans
George Casper Homans was an American sociologist, founder of behavioral sociology and the exchange theory.Homans is best known for his research in social behavior and his works including The Human Group, Social Behavior: Its Elementary Forms, his exchange theory and the many different propositions...
, Robert K. Merton
Robert K. Merton
Robert King Merton was a distinguished American sociologist. He spent most of his career teaching at Columbia University, where he attained the rank of University Professor...
, and Elton Mayo
Elton Mayo
George Elton Mayo was an Australian psychologist, sociologist and organization theorist.He lectured at the University of Queensland from 1911 to 1923 before moving to the University of Pennsylvania, but spent most of his career at Harvard Business School , where he was professor of industrial...
who all became pioneers in sociology or psychology. Henderson was instrumental in promoting Talcott Parsons career at Harvard despite Pitirim Sorokin
Pitirim Sorokin
Pitirim Alexandrovich Sorokin was a Russian-American sociologist born in Komi . Academic and political activist in Russia, he emigrated from Russia to the United States in 1923. He founded the Department of Sociology at Harvard University. He was a vocal opponent of Talcott Parsons' theories...
's opposition. He also discussed intensively with Parsons the methodological chapters of Talcott Parsons "The Structure" of Social Action" (1937) at the time when Parsons was working on the raw manuscript.
Henderson's investigations had their inception and consummation in the philosopher's chair. In spite of his diversity of interests, his work exhibits in retrospect a fundamental unity; his career was largely devoted to the study of the organization of the organism, the universe, and society.
Books
- The Fitness of the Environment. Macmillan, New York, 1913 (German edition in 1914),
- The Order of Nature. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, London, 1917 (French edition in 1924),
- Blood. A Study in General Physiology. Yale University Press, New Haven, and Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press, London, 1928 (French edition in 1931, German edition in 1932),
- Pareto's General Sociology. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1935.
- On the Social System. Ed. by Bernard Barber, University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London, 1970.
External links
- For Henderson's work see: http://mitglied.lycos.de/Windeln/
- http://books.nap.edu/html/biomems/lhenderson.pdf