spontaneous generation
Noun
Meaning
spontaneous generation (countable and uncountable, plural spontaneous generations)
(evolutionary theory, historical) The fancied production of live organisms without previously existing parents from inorganic matter, or from decomposing organic matter, a notion which at one time had many supporters.
Synonyms
Examples
At that time, various fungi were still considered to arise through spontaneous generation.
Nature was widely believed to be unstable and capricious, with monstrous births from union between species, and spontaneous generation of life.
It could be concluded that spontaneous generation could be disproven.
Pasteur demonstrated that fermentation is caused by the growth of microorganisms, and the emergent growth of bacteria in nutrient broths is due to biogenesis rather than spontaneous generation.
His notion of spores being the reproductive mechanism for the growth was a large blow to the previous suggestions of spontaneous generation.
This combined with his contemporary's idea of " spontaneous generation " allow us to see how Thales could hold that water could be divine and creative.