Which researcher contributed significantly to the field of vivisection during the 19th century?

Claude Bernard is recognized as a pivotal figure in the field of vivisection during the 19th century due to his extensive work in physiology and the experimental method in medicine. He championed the use of vivisection, which involves conducting experiments on live animals to better understand physiological processes and disease. Bernard believed that experimentation was essential for advancing medical knowledge and improving treatment, and his research laid the groundwork for modern biomedical science.

His contributions were critical in demonstrating how the processes of living organisms could be understood through controlled experiments, thereby influencing both scientific methodology and ethical discussions surrounding vivisection. He was also instrumental in highlighting the importance of rigor in experimental design, which continues to inform research practices today.

The other individuals mentioned made important contributions to their respective fields but did not focus on vivisection in the same way. Louis Pasteur is known for his work in microbiology and vaccination, Aristotle contributed foundational ideas to biology and philosophy, and Charles Darwin is famous for his theory of evolution through natural selection. While all of these figures shaped scientific understanding, it is Claude Bernard whose work specifically advanced the practice and acceptance of vivisection during that era.