Rolf Sattler
Encyclopedia
Rolf Sattler, Ph.D., D.Sc. (h.c.), F.L.S., F.R.S.C., (born March 8, 1936) is a Canadian plant morphologist
, biologist, philosopher, and educator. He is considered one of the most significant contributors to the field of plant morphology. His contributions are not only empirical but involved also a revision of the most fundamental concepts, theories, and philosophical assumptions. As well as being the author of a number of books and nearly a hundred scientific papers, he has contributed to many national and international symposia. He also organized and chaired symposia at international congresses, edited the proceedings of two of them and published them as books.
, Germany. He studied botany, zoology, chemistry, philosophy and pedagogy in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. He received his doctorate, with summa cum laude, in systematic botany from the University of Munich. As a postdoctoral fellow, he spent a year with Ludwig von Bertalanffy
, one of the founders of general systems theory, at the University of Alberta
in Canada. Subsequently, he worked for another year with Ernest M. Gifford and G. Ledyard Stebbins
at the University of California
. For 33 years, he was first assistant, then associate, and finally full professor in the departments of botany and biology of McGill University
in Montreal. He became Emeritus Professor when he retired in 1997. Since retiring he has lived in Kingston, Ontario
.
At McGill University he taught botany, biology, the history and philosophy of biology, and biology in relation to the human predicament. As a visiting professor at the University of Berlin in Germany he taught plant morphology and the philosophy of biology. At Cornell University
, he was consultant in the Summer Institute on the Philosophy of Biology
. And at Naropa Institute he taught a summer course on Modern Biology and Zen.
Sattler has lectured at many universities across the globe, including Harvard
and the Universities of California, Paris, Berlin, Bonn, Heidelberg, Zurich, Delhi, Malaya, and Singapore.
As well as his research in plant morphology and the philosophy of biology, he has investigated the relation of science and spirituality and is keenly interested in healing thinking and holistic alternative medicine
. He is also interested in developing a process language in which the verb, not the noun or pronoun, plays the primary role.
In 1995, he gave a talk on science and spirituality in symposium at the 60th birthday celebrations of the Dalai Lama
. There he discussed the relation between science and spirituality with special reference to life science.
His empirical findings led him to revision fundamental concepts of comparative morphology such as the concept of homology and homeosis. He emphasized that the concepts of homology
and homeosis
(replacement) should also include partial homology, partial homeosis, and quantitative homology.
These revisions led him to question the theoretical and philosophical foundations of comparative morphology. In contrast to mainstream morphology, which tends to be categorical, he provided evidence for a continuum morphology. Together with Bernard Jeune, he demonstrated mathematically a continuum of plant forms that spans not only organ categories such as root
, stem
, and leaf
, but also different hierarchical levels
of organ systems, organs, and tissues
. Rutishauser and Isler regard him as one of the major contemporary proponents of continuum morphology (or Fuzzy Arberian Morphology: FAM).
Furthermore, he developed a dynamic morphology or process morphology that supersedes the structure/process dualism inherent in almost all biological research. According to process morphology, structures do not have process(es), they are process(es). He uses principal component analysis, continuum and process morphology, and morphological distance to provide a dynamic approach to structure as process, and his work has placed comparative morphology on a more objective plane…
The major focus of his philosophical contributions to plant morphology and our understanding of reality has been on process philosophy
, integral philosophy, holism
, contextualism
, perspectivism
, and complementarity
. Besides hierarchy (holarchy
) he underlines the importance of complementary perspectives such as dialectics, holism as undivided wholeness, Yin-Yang, continuum and network views. Besides Aristotelian either/or logic, he emphasizes the importance of fuzzy logic
. He explores how either/or logic can lead to conflict and even war, whereas fuzzy logic and Yin-Yang thinking can be healing because they connect what either/or logic has torn apart. Finally, he also emphasizes that beyond all perspectives is the unnamable, the source, emptiness (in the Buddhist sense), mystery, which is of ultimate importance for healing and total Being.
and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
. In 1974 he was awarded the Lawson Medal (the highest award of the Canadian Botanical Association) for his book Organogenesis of Flowers.
In 1995 he received an honorary doctorate (D.Sc.) from the Open International University at Colombo, Sri Lanka for his contributions to complementary alternative medicine.
A symposium was dedicated to him on the occasion of his retirement.
Plant morphology
Plant morphology or phytomorphology is the study of the physical form and external structure of plants. This is usually considered distinct from plant anatomy, which is the study of the internal structure of plants, especially at the microscopic level...
, biologist, philosopher, and educator. He is considered one of the most significant contributors to the field of plant morphology. His contributions are not only empirical but involved also a revision of the most fundamental concepts, theories, and philosophical assumptions. As well as being the author of a number of books and nearly a hundred scientific papers, he has contributed to many national and international symposia. He also organized and chaired symposia at international congresses, edited the proceedings of two of them and published them as books.
Life
Rolf Sattler was born in GöppingenGöppingen
Göppingen is a town in southern Germany, part of the Stuttgart Region of Baden-Württemberg. It is the capital of the district Göppingen. It is situated at the bottom of the Hohenstaufen mountain, in the valley of the river Fils....
, Germany. He studied botany, zoology, chemistry, philosophy and pedagogy in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. He received his doctorate, with summa cum laude, in systematic botany from the University of Munich. As a postdoctoral fellow, he spent a year with Ludwig von Bertalanffy
Ludwig von Bertalanffy
Karl Ludwig von Bertalanffy was an Austrian-born biologist known as one of the founders of general systems theory . GST is an interdisciplinary practice that describes systems with interacting components, applicable to biology, cybernetics, and other fields...
, one of the founders of general systems theory, at the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
in Canada. Subsequently, he worked for another year with Ernest M. Gifford and G. Ledyard Stebbins
G. Ledyard Stebbins
George Ledyard Stebbins, Jr. was an American botanist and geneticist who is widely regarded as one of the leading evolutionary biologists of the 20th century. Stebbins received his Ph.D. in botany from Harvard University in 1931. He went on to the University of California, Berkeley, where his work...
at the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
. For 33 years, he was first assistant, then associate, and finally full professor in the departments of botany and biology of McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in Montreal. He became Emeritus Professor when he retired in 1997. Since retiring he has lived in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
.
At McGill University he taught botany, biology, the history and philosophy of biology, and biology in relation to the human predicament. As a visiting professor at the University of Berlin in Germany he taught plant morphology and the philosophy of biology. At Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, he was consultant in the Summer Institute on the Philosophy of Biology
Philosophy of biology
The philosophy of biology is a subfield of philosophy of science, which deals with epistemological, metaphysical, and ethical issues in the biological and biomedical sciences...
. And at Naropa Institute he taught a summer course on Modern Biology and Zen.
Sattler has lectured at many universities across the globe, including Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and the Universities of California, Paris, Berlin, Bonn, Heidelberg, Zurich, Delhi, Malaya, and Singapore.
As well as his research in plant morphology and the philosophy of biology, he has investigated the relation of science and spirituality and is keenly interested in healing thinking and holistic alternative medicine
Holistic health
Holistic health is a concept in medical practice upholding that all aspects of people's needs, psychological, physical and social should be taken into account and seen as a whole. As defined above, the holistic view on treatment is widely accepted in medicine...
. He is also interested in developing a process language in which the verb, not the noun or pronoun, plays the primary role.
In 1995, he gave a talk on science and spirituality in symposium at the 60th birthday celebrations of the Dalai Lama
14th Dalai Lama
The 14th Dalai Lama is the 14th and current Dalai Lama. Dalai Lamas are the most influential figures in the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, although the 14th has consolidated control over the other lineages in recent years...
. There he discussed the relation between science and spirituality with special reference to life science.
Ideas
Sattler’s contributions to plant morphology include the empirical, conceptual, theoretical, and philosophical. Together with his coworkers he has contributed a wealth of empirical data on leaf development and flower development.His empirical findings led him to revision fundamental concepts of comparative morphology such as the concept of homology and homeosis. He emphasized that the concepts of homology
Homology (biology)
Homology forms the basis of organization for comparative biology. In 1843, Richard Owen defined homology as "the same organ in different animals under every variety of form and function". Organs as different as a bat's wing, a seal's flipper, a cat's paw and a human hand have a common underlying...
and homeosis
Homeosis
Homeosis is the transformation of one body part into another, arising from mutation in or misexpression of specific developmentally critical genes. It may be caused by mutations in Hox genes, found in animals, or others such as the MADS-box family in plants...
(replacement) should also include partial homology, partial homeosis, and quantitative homology.
These revisions led him to question the theoretical and philosophical foundations of comparative morphology. In contrast to mainstream morphology, which tends to be categorical, he provided evidence for a continuum morphology. Together with Bernard Jeune, he demonstrated mathematically a continuum of plant forms that spans not only organ categories such as root
Root
In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating . Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either...
, stem
Plant stem
A stem is one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant. The stem is normally divided into nodes and internodes, the nodes hold buds which grow into one or more leaves, inflorescence , conifer cones, roots, other stems etc. The internodes distance one node from another...
, and leaf
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
, but also different hierarchical levels
Hierarchy
A hierarchy is an arrangement of items in which the items are represented as being "above," "below," or "at the same level as" one another...
of organ systems, organs, and tissues
Tissue (biology)
Tissue is a cellular organizational level intermediate between cells and a complete organism. A tissue is an ensemble of cells, not necessarily identical, but from the same origin, that together carry out a specific function. These are called tissues because of their identical functioning...
. Rutishauser and Isler regard him as one of the major contemporary proponents of continuum morphology (or Fuzzy Arberian Morphology: FAM).
Furthermore, he developed a dynamic morphology or process morphology that supersedes the structure/process dualism inherent in almost all biological research. According to process morphology, structures do not have process(es), they are process(es). He uses principal component analysis, continuum and process morphology, and morphological distance to provide a dynamic approach to structure as process, and his work has placed comparative morphology on a more objective plane…
The major focus of his philosophical contributions to plant morphology and our understanding of reality has been on process philosophy
Process philosophy
Process philosophy identifies metaphysical reality with change and dynamism. Since the time of Plato and Aristotle, philosophers have posited true reality as "timeless", based on permanent substances, whilst processes are denied or subordinated to timeless substances...
, integral philosophy, holism
Holism
Holism is the idea that all the properties of a given system cannot be determined or explained by its component parts alone...
, contextualism
Contextualism
Contextualism describes a collection of views in philosophy which emphasize the context in which an action, utterance, or expression occurs, and argues that, in some important respect, the action, utterance, or expression can only be understood relative to that context...
, perspectivism
Perspectivism
Perspectivism is the philosophical view developed by Friedrich Nietzsche that all ideations take place from particular perspectives. This means that there are many possible conceptual schemes, or perspectives in which judgment of truth or value can be made...
, and complementarity
Complementarity
-Mathematics:*Complementary angles, in geometry* Complementarity theory, a concept related to optimization -Physical sciences:* Complementarity , a property of nucleic acid molecules in molecular biology...
. Besides hierarchy (holarchy
Holarchy
A holarchy, in the terminology of Arthur Koestler, is a connection between holons – where a holon is both a part and a whole. The term was coined in Koestler's 1967 book The Ghost in the Machine...
) he underlines the importance of complementary perspectives such as dialectics, holism as undivided wholeness, Yin-Yang, continuum and network views. Besides Aristotelian either/or logic, he emphasizes the importance of fuzzy logic
Fuzzy logic
Fuzzy logic is a form of many-valued logic; it deals with reasoning that is approximate rather than fixed and exact. In contrast with traditional logic theory, where binary sets have two-valued logic: true or false, fuzzy logic variables may have a truth value that ranges in degree between 0 and 1...
. He explores how either/or logic can lead to conflict and even war, whereas fuzzy logic and Yin-Yang thinking can be healing because they connect what either/or logic has torn apart. Finally, he also emphasizes that beyond all perspectives is the unnamable, the source, emptiness (in the Buddhist sense), mystery, which is of ultimate importance for healing and total Being.
Awards and honors
Sattler is a Fellow of the Linnean Society of LondonLinnean Society of London
The Linnean Society of London is the world's premier society for the study and dissemination of taxonomy and natural history. It publishes a zoological journal, as well as botanical and biological journals...
and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
. In 1974 he was awarded the Lawson Medal (the highest award of the Canadian Botanical Association) for his book Organogenesis of Flowers.
In 1995 he received an honorary doctorate (D.Sc.) from the Open International University at Colombo, Sri Lanka for his contributions to complementary alternative medicine.
A symposium was dedicated to him on the occasion of his retirement.