Gustav Fechner (1801-1887), pioneer of a psychophysical which sought to establish a correlation between physical stimuli, sensations and soul, presented in the question of the soul, but a definition of the soul that considerations of its many manifestations and the belief that they inspire. These manifestations of the soul, mainly taken from the sensitivity, are no privilege to humans. Taking up arguments of several of his earlier books (Nanna and Zend-Avesta mainly), again shows here how plants feel nerveless, and how, as spring, are oriented, they choose, have sexuality differ and are related, have "soul". The life of a plant is closer to that of an awake animal of a sleeping animal or embryo. So the arguments, analogies and differences unfold. Simple analogies! They say their adversaries; yes, mere analogies, he will nod Fechner, but carefully carried analogies. Analogies linked to singular points of view, at a cross look, even visions: Fechner speaks of bodies and souls but redistributing them to extreme limits in a strange world of thresholds. Life? A threshold between sleep and wakefulness. The soul? A gradual awakening varying intensities distributed over a number ranging from plants to God, reaching the stars. A continuous series of thresholds where intermediaries (polyps, plant-animal) and the connection operation play? A crucial role.
This philosophy, William James characterized it as "philosophy of thickness" halagándola against the flat philosophies of all. With the question of the soul, Fechner was proposed in the nineteenth century, evicting materialism and idealism alike. Today leaves open many readings, as disturbing as fascinating ... something of a radical ecology, vitalism without limitation, an almost oriental continuismo ... as a philosophy that grabs things, plants, planets and the words, without any fear, and without asking permission from anyone nadie.?A or a hydra.
(Text by Marie Bardet)