Abstract

Achievements of Hans Driesch (1867–1941), German embryologist and philosopher, are contemporarily viewed almost exclusively from their later metaphysical phase of development, while his earlier scientific experimental researches are not appreciated sufficiently enough. They consisted in highlighting the specifically totipotential character of biological, and especially of embryological, processes what is still methodologically inspiring in many dimensions of contemporary biological investigations. The author postulates thus a deeper analysis of Driesch’s scientific accomplishments and broader assessment of their actual significance in contemporary biology.