Jan Lever (Groningen, 20 July 1922 – Amsterdam, 23 November 2010) was a Dutch biologist specialized in zoology, endocrinology and evolutionary biology. His ideas on evolution may be characterized as a form of theistic evolution. Lever was an important voice in shaping Dutch public debate on evolution and biology, particularly in protestant circles.
The Reformed Lever studied biology at Utrecht University from 1939 onwards. Lever obtained his doctorate in 1950. He served as a professor of zoology at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam from 1952 until 1986.[1] In his inaugural lecture, he presented his belief that evolution was the way in which God had created the world. He further developed this argument in his book Creatie en evolutie (1956; English translation 1958 under the title Creation and Evolution).[2]
In the early 1950s, Lever started research on the neuroendocrine system of the basommatophoran snail, Lymnaea stagnalis. Lever himself found a particular kind of neurons in the ancylid snail Ferrissia, and his student Joos Joosse demonstrated those neurons in other snail species. Lymnaea became the animal of choice for physiological research at the VU Amsterdam laboratory for decades.[4]
At the beginning of his career, Lever’s ideas about evolution and the species concept were inspired by the Reformational philosophy of philosopher Herman Dooyeweerd. During his student days, Lever became acquainted with the biologist Johann Heinrich Diemer, who had published about Dooyeweerd's approach in the domain of biology in the 1930s. Diemer was a great influence on Lever's thought. Together with Dooyeweerd, Lever wrote four articles about the species concept in the journal Philosophia Reformata (1948–1950) in which species were defined as constant types. In his book, Creatie en Evolutie (1956), Lever still subscribed to Dooyeweerd’s philosophy but also suggested that it is possible that biological evolution occurred. Later he moved away from these earlier ideas about species constancy, and adhered to a kind of theistic evolution.[5]
PublicationsEdit
Creatie en Evolutie (1956); translated in English (1958) as Creation and Evolution
Quantitative beach research I, The "left-right-phenomenon": Sorting of lamellibranch valves on sandy beaches (1958)
Waar blijven we? (1969); translated in English (1970) as Where are we headed? A biologist talks about origins, evolution, and the future
Geïntegreerde biologie (1973)
Schepping en evolutie (1985)
Bomengids van Amsterdam-Zuid (2002)
Feniks en broedmachine. Reisverhalen over deze wondere wereld (2003)
Langs de mysterieuze grenzen van het leven (2006)
Een bioloog leest de Bijbel (2010)
LiteratureEdit
Ab Flipse (2010), "In memoriam prof. dr. Jan Lever, 20 juli 1922 – 23 november 2010". HDC.VU.NL, 9 December 2010. Accessed 5 November 2018.
Ab Flipse (2016), "Jan Lever: bioloog, bruggenbouwer en boegbeeld van de VU", in: Verder kijken. Honderdvijfendertig jaar Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in de samenleving. Amsterdam: Vrije Universiteit, 196-202.
Willem Bouwman (2006), "De evolutie van professor Lever", Nederlands Dagblad, 17 maart 2006.
Ab Flipse (red.)(2022), Jan Lever - Honderd. Terugblikken op leven en werk van VU-bioloog Jan Lever (1922-2010) (Amsterdam: HDC, 2022); 158 pp.; ISBN: 9789072319418; Donum-reeks dl. 21
ReferencesEdit
^H. de Vries (1994), "'Allesweter' prof. Jan Lever: 'Ik heb een kinderlijke belangstelling voor allerlei dingen.' Digibron. Kenniscentrum Gereformeerde Gezindte', 9 februari 1994.
^Jan Lever (January 1958). Creation and Evolution. Grand Rapids Int'l.
^S.E. Wendelaar Bonga. "Obituary Jan Lever (1922-2010) on the website of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences" (PDF) (in Dutch).
^Eric W. Roubos; et al. (2010). "About a Snail, a Toad, and Rodents: Animal Models for Adaptation Research". Frontiers in Endocrinology. 1: 4. doi:10.3389/fendo.2010.00004. PMC3355873. PMID 22649351.
^H. Cook and A.C. Flipse (2017). "Jan Lever: Challenging the Role of Typological Thinking in Reformational Views of Biology". Philosophia Reformata. 82: 3–25. doi:10.1163/23528230-08201002.
External linksEdit
Jan Lever pages
October 16, 2023
lever, groningen, july, 1922, amsterdam, november, 2010, dutch, biologist, specialized, zoology, endocrinology, evolutionary, biology, ideas, evolution, characterized, form, theistic, evolution, lever, important, voice, shaping, dutch, public, debate, evolutio. Jan Lever Groningen 20 July 1922 Amsterdam 23 November 2010 was a Dutch biologist specialized in zoology endocrinology and evolutionary biology His ideas on evolution may be characterized as a form of theistic evolution Lever was an important voice in shaping Dutch public debate on evolution and biology particularly in protestant circles Contents 1 Life and career 2 Research and writings 3 Publications 4 Literature 5 References 6 External linksLife and career EditThe Reformed Lever studied biology at Utrecht University from 1939 onwards Lever obtained his doctorate in 1950 He served as a professor of zoology at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam from 1952 until 1986 1 In his inaugural lecture he presented his belief that evolution was the way in which God had created the world He further developed this argument in his book Creatie en evolutie 1956 English translation 1958 under the title Creation and Evolution 2 In 1970 Lever was elected member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences 3 Research and writings EditIn the early 1950s Lever started research on the neuroendocrine system of the basommatophoran snail Lymnaea stagnalis Lever himself found a particular kind of neurons in the ancylid snail Ferrissia and his student Joos Joosse demonstrated those neurons in other snail species Lymnaea became the animal of choice for physiological research at the VU Amsterdam laboratory for decades 4 At the beginning of his career Lever s ideas about evolution and the species concept were inspired by the Reformational philosophy of philosopher Herman Dooyeweerd During his student days Lever became acquainted with the biologist Johann Heinrich Diemer who had published about Dooyeweerd s approach in the domain of biology in the 1930s Diemer was a great influence on Lever s thought Together with Dooyeweerd Lever wrote four articles about the species concept in the journal Philosophia Reformata 1948 1950 in which species were defined as constant types In his book Creatie en Evolutie 1956 Lever still subscribed to Dooyeweerd s philosophy but also suggested that it is possible that biological evolution occurred Later he moved away from these earlier ideas about species constancy and adhered to a kind of theistic evolution 5 Publications EditCreatie en Evolutie 1956 translated in English 1958 as Creation and Evolution Quantitative beach research I The left right phenomenon Sorting of lamellibranch valves on sandy beaches 1958 Waar blijven we 1969 translated in English 1970 as Where are we headed A biologist talks about origins evolution and the future Geintegreerde biologie 1973 Schepping en evolutie 1985 Bomengids van Amsterdam Zuid 2002 Feniks en broedmachine Reisverhalen over deze wondere wereld 2003 Langs de mysterieuze grenzen van het leven 2006 Een bioloog leest de Bijbel 2010 Literature EditAb Flipse 2010 In memoriam prof dr Jan Lever 20 juli 1922 23 november 2010 HDC VU NL 9 December 2010 Accessed 5 November 2018 Ab Flipse 2016 Jan Lever bioloog bruggenbouwer en boegbeeld van de VU in Verder kijken Honderdvijfendertig jaar Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in de samenleving Amsterdam Vrije Universiteit 196 202 Willem Bouwman 2006 De evolutie van professor Lever Nederlands Dagblad 17 maart 2006 Ab Flipse red 2022 Jan Lever Honderd Terugblikken op leven en werk van VU bioloog Jan Lever 1922 2010 Amsterdam HDC 2022 158 pp ISBN 9789072319418 Donum reeks dl 21References Edit H de Vries 1994 Allesweter prof Jan Lever Ik heb een kinderlijke belangstelling voor allerlei dingen Digibron Kenniscentrum Gereformeerde Gezindte 9 februari 1994 Jan Lever January 1958 Creation and Evolution Grand Rapids Int l S E Wendelaar Bonga Obituary Jan Lever 1922 2010 on the website of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences PDF in Dutch Eric W Roubos et al 2010 About a Snail a Toad and Rodents Animal Models for Adaptation Research Frontiers in Endocrinology 1 4 doi 10 3389 fendo 2010 00004 PMC 3355873 PMID 22649351 H Cook and A C Flipse 2017 Jan Lever Challenging the Role of Typological Thinking in Reformational Views of Biology Philosophia Reformata 82 3 25 doi 10 1163 23528230 08201002 External links EditJan Lever pages Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jan Lever amp oldid 1163576555, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
