Lancelot Law Whyte, the son of Dr. Alexander Whyte, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland into the privileged childhood of a great house; Alexander Whyte was at the time a renowned Presbyterian minister. Lancelot received his education at Bedales School in England. He was a soldier during the First World War, returning to enter Trinity College, Cambridge and studying physics under Ernest Rutherford. Subsequently, he studied at Göttingen University in Germany.[2] Whyte’s interest developed as much along lines of human evolution and philosophy as that of theoretical physics.
To earn a living, White entered industry and banking in Britain, but he returned to Germany for a year, where he met Albert Einstein. Back in Britain, in 1935 Whyte met Frank Whittle, one of the pioneers of the turbojet engine, and became a backer of the development of this invention, the eventual result being the British Air Ministry's initial commitment to the development of turbojet-powered planes, nearly five years later.[3]
Whyte proposed something he called "the unitary principle" to unify physics theories.[6] Experimental work on this theory was carried out by Leo Baranski.[7]
Evolution
Whyte was the author of the book Internal Factors in Evolution (1965). He proposed that Darwin's theory of natural selection is limited to external factors, and internal factors are a second directive agency in evolution.[8] Whyte proposed the term "internal selection." John Tyler Bonner in the American Scientist positively reviewed the book. According to Bonner:
[Internal selection] is simply that there are two kinds of selection; an external Darwinian one and an internal one which is independent of the adaptability of the organism to a particular environment. The internal selection takes place by the machinery of the organism passing upon whether or not a particular mutation can survive considering the nature of internal milieu.[9]
Whyte's ideas were beyond the long-established tracks but do not sound too far-fetched today. He postulated the existence of »directive factors« in the machinery of the cell. These factors control mutations as well as an »internal selection«, a particular kind of evolution separately optimizing processes in the cell. Whyte’s »internal selection« explained »the directions of evolutionary change by internal organizational factors«. His model demonstrates why some well-corroborated genes are protected, and why, on the other hand, sensible variations of certain traits are supported by well-directed mutations of the related genes. The cell is the conductor, and the genome is its score to be interpreted wisely.[10]
Other scientists have been more critical. Biologist Robert E. Hillman gave the book a negative review, commenting "in a weak and ill-supported effort to deemphasize the role of natural selection in evolution Whyte has detracted from what could have been a fine analysis and philosophical discussion of the latest advances in the chemical basis of heredity and evolution."[11]
Works
Scientific papers
Z. Phys., 56, 809, 1929. 'On the characteristics of a unified physical theory. I. The presence of a universal constant with the dimensions of a length.' (In German.)
Z. Phys., 61, 274, 1930. 'Ditto. II. Rulers, clocks, and a possible alternative to 4-co-ordinate representation.' (In German.)
Libr. of Xth Int. Congr. of Phil., Amsterdam, 1948. I. 298. 'One-way Processes in Biology.'
Nature, 163, 762, 1949. 'Tendency towards Symmetry in Fundamental Physical Structures.'
Nature, 166, 824, 1950. 'Planck's Constant and the Fine-Structure Constant.'
Br. J. Philos. Sci., 1, 303, 1951. 'Fundamental Physical Theory. An Interpretation of the Present Position of the Theory of Particles.'
Br. J. Philos. Sci., 3, 256, 1952. 'Angles in Fundamental Physics.'
Am. Math. Mon., 59, 606, 1952. 'Unique Arrangements of Points on a Sphere.'
Br. J. Philos. Sci., 3, 243, 1952. 'The Electric Current. A Study of the Role of Time in Electron Physics.'
Br. J. Philos. Sci., 3, 349, 1953. 'Has a Single Electron a Transit Time?’
Phil. Mag., 44, 1303, 1953. 'The Velocities of Fundamental Particles.'
Br. J. Philos. Sci., 4, 160, 1953. 'Light Signal Kinematics.'
^"Whyte, Eva "A Biographical Note on L. L. Whyte" (n.d.)". doi:10.1080/00107530.1974.10745345. Retrieved 25 July 2020. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^"Whyte, Eva "A Biographical Note on L. L. Whyte" (n.d.)". doi:10.1080/00107530.1974.10745345. Retrieved 25 July 2020. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^Focus and Diversions, L L Whyte, Cresset Press, London 1963
^Roger Joseph Boscovich SJ FRS, 1711 -1787 Studies of his life and work on the 250th anniversary of his birth, edited L L Whyte, George Allen and Unwin, London, 1961
^The Unitary Principle in Physics and biology, LL Whyte, London, 1949
^Scientific Basis for World Civilization: Unitary Field theory, Leo J Baranski, The Christopher Publishing House, USA, 1960
^Clovis, Jesse F. (1968). Internal Factors in Evolution by L. L. Whyte. Castanea. Vol. 33, No. 2. p. 156.
^Bonner, John Tyler. (1965). Internal Factors in Evolution by L. L. Whyte. American Scientist. Vol. 53, No. 2. p. 198A, 200A.
^Niemann, Hans-Joachim, Karl Popper and the Two New Secrets of Life, Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck 2014, chap. I, sect. 6, subsection 'Lancelot L. Whyte', p. 36-37.
^Hillman, Robert E. (1965). Internal Factors in Evolution by Lancelot Law Whyte. Chesapeake Science. Vol. 6, No. 2. pp. 123–124.
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May 06, 2023
lancelot, whyte, november, 1896, september, 1972, scottish, philosopher, theoretical, physicist, historian, science, financier, contents, early, life, career, unified, field, theory, evolution, works, scientific, papers, books, also, notesearly, life, career, . Lancelot Law Whyte 4 November 1896 14 September 1972 was a Scottish philosopher theoretical physicist historian of science and financier 1 Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Unified field theory 3 Evolution 4 Works 4 1 Scientific papers 4 2 Books 5 See also 6 NotesEarly life and career EditLancelot Law Whyte the son of Dr Alexander Whyte was born in Edinburgh Scotland into the privileged childhood of a great house Alexander Whyte was at the time a renowned Presbyterian minister Lancelot received his education at Bedales School in England He was a soldier during the First World War returning to enter Trinity College Cambridge and studying physics under Ernest Rutherford Subsequently he studied at Gottingen University in Germany 2 Whyte s interest developed as much along lines of human evolution and philosophy as that of theoretical physics To earn a living White entered industry and banking in Britain but he returned to Germany for a year where he met Albert Einstein Back in Britain in 1935 Whyte met Frank Whittle one of the pioneers of the turbojet engine and became a backer of the development of this invention the eventual result being the British Air Ministry s initial commitment to the development of turbojet powered planes nearly five years later 3 Unified field theory EditHe claimed to have worked with Albert Einstein on the unified field theory 4 He further claimed that this work was based on the theory of the 18th century natural philosopher Roger Boscovich 5 Whyte proposed something he called the unitary principle to unify physics theories 6 Experimental work on this theory was carried out by Leo Baranski 7 Evolution EditWhyte was the author of the book Internal Factors in Evolution 1965 He proposed that Darwin s theory of natural selection is limited to external factors and internal factors are a second directive agency in evolution 8 Whyte proposed the term internal selection John Tyler Bonner in the American Scientist positively reviewed the book According to Bonner Internal selection is simply that there are two kinds of selection an external Darwinian one and an internal one which is independent of the adaptability of the organism to a particular environment The internal selection takes place by the machinery of the organism passing upon whether or not a particular mutation can survive considering the nature of internal milieu 9 In 2014 the philosopher Hans Joachim Niemann wrote about Whyte Whyte s ideas were beyond the long established tracks but do not sound too far fetched today He postulated the existence of directive factors in the machinery of the cell These factors control mutations as well as an internal selection a particular kind of evolution separately optimizing processes in the cell Whyte s internal selection explained the directions of evolutionary change by internal organizational factors His model demonstrates why some well corroborated genes are protected and why on the other hand sensible variations of certain traits are supported by well directed mutations of the related genes The cell is the conductor and the genome is its score to be interpreted wisely 10 Other scientists have been more critical Biologist Robert E Hillman gave the book a negative review commenting in a weak and ill supported effort to deemphasize the role of natural selection in evolution Whyte has detracted from what could have been a fine analysis and philosophical discussion of the latest advances in the chemical basis of heredity and evolution 11 Works EditScientific papers Edit Z Phys 56 809 1929 On the characteristics of a unified physical theory I The presence of a universal constant with the dimensions of a length In German Z Phys 61 274 1930 Ditto II Rulers clocks and a possible alternative to 4 co ordinate representation In German Libr of Xth Int Congr of Phil Amsterdam 1948 I 298 One way Processes in Biology Nature 163 762 1949 Tendency towards Symmetry in Fundamental Physical Structures Nature 166 824 1950 Planck s Constant and the Fine Structure Constant Br J Philos Sci 1 303 1951 Fundamental Physical Theory An Interpretation of the Present Position of the Theory of Particles Br J Philos Sci 3 256 1952 Angles in Fundamental Physics Am Math Mon 59 606 1952 Unique Arrangements of Points on a Sphere Br J Philos Sci 3 243 1952 The Electric Current A Study of the Role of Time in Electron Physics Br J Philos Sci 3 349 1953 Has a Single Electron a Transit Time Phil Mag 44 1303 1953 The Velocities of Fundamental Particles Br J Philos Sci 4 160 1953 Light Signal Kinematics Am J Phys 21 323 1953 Dimensional Theory Dimensionless Secondary Quantities Br J Philos Sci 5 1 1954 A Dimensionless Physics Nature 174 398 1954 Velocity of Electron Pulses With D Gabor and D L Richards Br J Philos Sci 4 337 1954 Geodesics and the Space and Time of Physical Observations Ann Sci 10 20 1954 On the History of Natural Lengths Brain 77 I 158 1954 Hypothesis regarding the Brain Modifications underlying Memory Br J Philos Sci 5 332 1955 Note on the Structural Philosophy of Organism Br J Philos Sci 6 107 1955 One Way Processes in Physics and Bio Physics Nature 179 284 1957 Boscovich and Particle Theory Nature 180 513 1957 Chirality Br J Philos Sci 7 347 1957 On the Relation of Physical Laws to the Processes of Organisms Notes and Records Roy Soc London 13 38 1958 R J Boscovich 1711 1787 and the Mathematics of Atomism Nature 182 198 1958 Chirality Nature 182 230 1958 Report of Bicentenary Meeting Boscovich s Theoria Philosophise Naturalis 1758 Br J Philos Sci 9 133 1958 The Scope of Quantum Mechanics Books Edit Archimedes or the Future of Physics Lancelot Law Whyte Kegan Paul Trench Trubner amp Co LTD London 1927 Critique of Physics Lancelot Law Whyte Kegan Paul Trench Trubner amp Co LTD London 1931 The Next Development in Man Lancelot Law Whyte The Cresset Press London 1944 Everyman Looks Forward Lancelot Law Whyte The Cresset Press London 1946 The Unitary Principle in Physics and Biology Lancelot Law Whyte The Cresset Press London 1949 Accent on Form An Anticipation of the Science of Tomorrow World Perspectives Volume Two Lancelot Law Whyte Harper amp Brothers Publishers 1954 The Unconscious before Freud A History of the Evolution of Human Awareness Lancelot Law Whyte Basic Books New York 1960 Essay on Atomism From Democritus to 1960 Lancelot Law Whyte Nelson 1961 The Atomic Problem A Challenge to Physicists and Mathematicians Lancelot Law Whyte Allen amp Unwin 1961 Focus and Diversions Lancelot Law Whyte The Cresset Press London 1963 The Universe of Experience A World View Beyond Science and Religion Lancelot Law Whyte Harper amp Row Publishers 1963 Internal Factors in Evolution Lancelot Law Whyte Braziller New York 1965 Aspects of Form Symposium on Form in Nature and Art Lancelot Law Whyte editor Lund Humphries Publishers London 1968 Hierarchical Structures Lancelot Law Whyte Editor Elsevier 1969 See also EditClassical unified field theoriesNotes Edit PEP Web A Biographical Note on L L Whyte Whyte Eva A Biographical Note on L L Whyte n d doi 10 1080 00107530 1974 10745345 Retrieved 25 July 2020 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Whyte Eva A Biographical Note on L L Whyte n d doi 10 1080 00107530 1974 10745345 Retrieved 25 July 2020 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Focus and Diversions L L Whyte Cresset Press London 1963 Roger Joseph Boscovich SJ FRS 1711 1787 Studies of his life and work on the 250th anniversary of his birth edited L L Whyte George Allen and Unwin London 1961 The Unitary Principle in Physics and biology LL Whyte London 1949 Scientific Basis for World Civilization Unitary Field theory Leo J Baranski The Christopher Publishing House USA 1960 Clovis Jesse F 1968 Internal Factors in Evolution by L L Whyte Castanea Vol 33 No 2 p 156 Bonner John Tyler 1965 Internal Factors in Evolution by L L Whyte American Scientist Vol 53 No 2 p 198A 200A Niemann Hans Joachim Karl Popper and the Two New Secrets of Life Tubingen Mohr Siebeck 2014 chap I sect 6 subsection Lancelot L Whyte p 36 37 Hillman Robert E 1965 Internal Factors in Evolution by Lancelot Law Whyte Chesapeake Science Vol 6 No 2 pp 123 124 Wikiquote has quotations related to Lancelot Law Whyte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lancelot Law Whyte amp oldid 1131271195, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
