Pensée d’un biologist: Biologist, philosophism, and philatelist

The biology, all his life

Jean Rostand is a French writer and biologist born in 1894 in Paris.

He is the son of Edmond Rostand From an early age, he was interested in animals, especially insects. Later, he married his cousin and had a son.

He was responsible for the biology section of the “Palais de la découverte.” His interest in understanding the origins of life held him throughout his life where he conducted numerous research and experiments on heredity.

In 1954, he wrote “Pensées d'un biologiste”, a collection of his thoughts and observations. He was, moreover, profoundly pacifist (and feminist), he was even honorary president of the MDPL

Finally, he entered the French Academy in 1959 and died 18 years later in 1977.

Philosophism not philosophy

Philosophy gathered all the rational knowledge of the humanity during the antiquity (biology, astronomy, literature, mathematics...).

But with the passing of years, the term evolved well and today all the disciplines, all the knowledge are their own domain and are well separated.

Nowadays, philosophy would rather mean a critical reflection on a problematic theme.

Jean Rostand takes up, as for him, another theme in connection with philosophy: the philosophism.

The latter is a reflection, a philosophical attitude which is bad or even dangerous for religion or for the established order.

The philosopher is the one who criticizes religion in basing himself on the reason.

Post stamp for biologist

On February 21, 1987, alongside the doctors: Charles Richet, Eugène Jamot, Alexandre Yersin, Barnard Halpern, and Jacques Monod.

Jean Rostand is represented on a charity stamp in a collection of famous people with them.