导言结构的概念有着漫长的历史,至少可以追逆到二千多年前的亚里士多德时代。按照亚里士多德的观点,遗传相似性的基础不在实体的共同性,而在于组织起来的方式:要素联合起来形成组织的方式,这些组织的型式构成有机体(亚里士多德,1912年译)。遗传下来的,显然是结构而不是构建的材料。他认为这种功能具有十分重要的意义。他把形式看作是功能的衍生物,功能就是目的(telos),或者形式因。在亚里士多德以后的若干世纪中,一些生物学家开始把功能看作是形式的产物。十九世纪初,在 Introduction The concept of structure has a long history that can be traced back to at least Aristotelian times 2,000 years ago. According to Aristotle, the basis of genetic similarity is not the commonality of the entities, but the way of organizing: the way in which the elements join together to form an organization, the types of which constitute the organism (Aristotle, 1912 Translation). Inherited, apparently structural rather than constructed material. He thinks this kind of function has very important meaning. He regards form as a derivative of function, function as telos, or form factor. In the centuries after Aristotle, some biologists began to regard function as a product of form. Early nineteenth century, at