Synthetic biology: supporting an anti-reductionist view of life

Synthese, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 205(2)

Published: Jan. 16, 2025

Abstract The life sciences have evoked long-standing philosophical debates on a system view of versus reductionist that reduces the complexity life-forms to parts-based entities can be described purely mechanistically. This paper examines how current scientific advances in contribute an anti-reductionist concept life. It does so by looking at synthetic biology, discipline within has ambiguous relationship this debate. While field’s engineering approach could considered manifestation life, it also builds more holistic, systems analyses recent practices taking place biology seem challenge After analyzing main accounts I ask support these considering living as processual, collaborative, and cognitive, nonlife gradual scale. empirically informed contributes literature drawing observations about connecting following: sciences, different metaphysical stances philosophy emerging biology. concludes views

Language: Английский

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Control mechanisms: Explaining the integration and versatility of biological organisms

Adaptive Behavior, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 30(5), P. 389 - 407

Published: Jan. 27, 2022

Living organisms act as integrated wholes to maintain themselves. Individual actions can each be explained by characterizing the mechanisms that perform activity. But these alone do not explain how various activities are coordinated and performed versatilely. We argue this depends on a specific type of mechanism, control mechanism. develop an account examining several extensively studied operative in bacterium E. coli. On our analysis, what distinguishes mechanism from other is it relies measuring one or more variables, which results setting constraints determine its action flexible mechanisms. In most basic arrangement, measurement process directly determines but complex arrangements signals mediate between measurements effectors. This opens possibility multiple responses same based measurements. It also allows crosstalk, resulting networks Such integrate behaviors organism present challenge tailoring particular discuss activity still result differential, versatile, .

Language: Английский

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Organization needs organization: Understanding integrated control in living organisms

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 93, P. 96 - 106

Published: March 30, 2022

Organization figures centrally in the understanding of biological systems advanced by both new mechanists and proponents autonomy framework. The focus on how components mechanisms are organized to produce a phenomenon emphasize productive continuity between these components. framework focuses system such way that they contribute maintenance organisms them. In this paper we analyze compare two accounts organization argue as cohesively integrated benefits from insights both. To bring together accounts, notions control regulation bridge concepts. We start characterization terms constraints specific type mechanism, mechanisms, operate other basis measurements variables its environment. Control characterized their own set enable them sense conditions, convey signals, effect changes controlled mechanism. They thereby allow living adapt internal external variations coordinate parts manner maintain viability. Because contain vast number central challenge is understand themselves organized. With support examples unicellular multicellular heterarchically, discuss architecture can, without invoking top-down centralized forms organizations, succeed coordinating activities organisms.

Language: Английский

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Return of the organism? The concept in plant biology, now and then

Theoretical and Experimental Plant Physiology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 36(3), P. 355 - 368

Published: May 2, 2024

Abstract This essay argues for the importance of an organismic perspective in plant biology and considers some its implications. These include increased attention to plant-environment interaction emphasis on integrated approaches. Furthermore, this contextualizes concept organism recent years places a longer history. Recent developments worsening environmental crises have led researchers study responses changing environments with whole approaches that situate plants their environments, emphasizing intricate dynamic between them. renewed recalls debates early twentieth century, when organicism was one three main frameworks (along vitalism mechanism). Some scholars see today as “return” earlier period. including insights from will benefit philosophy research examines now periods. A comprehensive account should involve botanical conception well zoological (which is more frequently considered). Although does not aim present conceptual analysis, it presents examples how can be useful understanding concepts (such phenotype, stress, etc.) processes experiment set-ups, data processes, biology. Philosophy investigations at greatly examinations cases biology, both past.

Language: Английский

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Artificial Intelligence in Food Manufacturing: A Review of Current Work and Future Opportunities

Food Engineering Reviews, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 4, 2025

Language: Английский

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Explanatory Particularism in Scientific Practice

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 1, 2025

Abstract Explanatory Particularism presents an alternative approach to studying explanation across the sciences. On this view, explanations are local, context-dependent achievements of particular scientific communities, reflecting latter’s epistemic values, images understanding, and other contextual features. Values associated with understanding vary widely within communities over time. The particularist has implications for theories social action collaboration, interdisciplinary research in practice. Results include practical guidelines “low-effort interdisciplinarity,” aspects collaborative norms that complement more traditional empiricism. account is illustrated detailed case studies COVID-19 immunology vaccines, systems models vs. lab-based approaches, complexes model-based among life

Language: Английский

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Interdisciplinarity and Explanation

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 121 - 152

Published: April 1, 2025

Abstract This chapter applies the explanatory particularist account from Part I to an important class of cases in scientific practice: interdisciplinary research. first survey background for this application: empirical and philosophical studies interdisciplinarity (Section 4.1). Next, argue that ideas comport well with key results literature, offer several new insights 4.2). Section 4.3 goes deeper applying I’s framework, focusing on EPM taxonomy model–model relations Chapter 2. use latter classify research projects relevant explanation/understanding, setting up a challenge explanation (IDE) my response. application shows role explanation/understanding research, some apparent objections EP are actually advantages. Features practice seem incompatible particularism fact support view.

Language: Английский

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Conclusion: Further Work

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 322 - 332

Published: April 1, 2025

Abstract This short concluding chapter summarizes the book’s argument and key results. Three themes are throughlines for entire book: explanation as collaborative process product, diversity epistemic resource, engaging scientific practice. Philosophical study of guided by those three departs from tradition, but rejects only monist assumptions—not other theories explanation. Instead, repurposed resources particularist studies, illustrated in Chapters 7–8. reviews overall goals judges them to have been met: exploring idea that is a form activity; showing benefits diverse specialized explanations; reconfiguring relation between philosophical theory I then summarize results Parts II (see earlier summaries). The concludes with an open-ended list cases future work using EP’s framework insights.

Language: Английский

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Social Action

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 81 - 118

Published: April 1, 2025

Abstract This chapter develops the second part of my philosophical framework for analyzing particularist explanations. The basic idea is that constructing a scientific explanation collaborative activity. I use resources from social action theory to explicate this idea. first presents basics philosophy with detailed example (Section 3.1) and survey major theories 3.2). Building on latter, propose an original account activity, which implies norms participants’ attitudes 3.3). Applied case explanatory model-construction in epistemic community, yields general EP-explanation. Section 3.4 examines normative grounds account, setting stage Part II. final section integrates activity Chapter 2, yielding full particularism 3.5).

Language: Английский

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Social Understanding

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 194 - 240

Published: April 1, 2025

Abstract This chapter builds on the results of Chapter 5. Minimal coherence requirements for bridging models entail that main obstacle to IDE is scientists’ own attitudes. Section 6.1 addresses this obstacle, offering detailed guidelines making explicit and fostering relations. These operationalize modeling framework social action norms from Part I. Following them encourages scientists engaged in IDR adopt collaborative attitudes toward explanation. could be fruitfully applied current projects. 6.2 examines epistemic benefits broader normative significance IDE, focusing understanding. yields a particularist account an important aspect scientific understanding, building earlier sections book. Other implications build ideal patchwork unity science 6.3 puts new, understanding conversation with other philosophical accounts same. 6.4 concludes, summarizing key II.

Language: Английский

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