Reductionistic Explanations of Cognitive Information Processing: Bottoming Out in Neurochemistry DOI Creative Commons
William Bechtel

Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 16

Published: July 4, 2022

A common motivation for engaging in reductionistic research is to ground explanations the most basic processes operative mechanism responsible phenomenon be explained. I argue a different motivation-directing inquiry level of organization at which components enable work that results phenomenon. In context accounts cognitive information processing this requires going down largely overlooked these discussions, chemistry. discussions processing, brain often viewed as essentially an electrical switching system and many theorists treat mechanistic should bottom out. argue, drawing on examples peptidergic monoaminergic neurons, how processed determined by specific chemical reactions occurring individual neurons. Accordingly, need take into account involved.

Language: Английский

Organization needs organization: Understanding integrated control in living organisms DOI Creative Commons
Leonardo Bich, William Bechtel

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

Citations

20
Reductionistic Explanations of Cognitive Information Processing: Bottoming Out in Neurochemistry DOI Creative Commons
William Bechtel

Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 16

Published: July 4, 2022

A common motivation for engaging in reductionistic research is to ground explanations the most basic processes operative mechanism responsible phenomenon be explained. I argue a different motivation-directing inquiry level of organization at which components enable work that results phenomenon. In context accounts cognitive information processing this requires going down largely overlooked these discussions, chemistry. discussions processing, brain often viewed as essentially an electrical switching system and many theorists treat mechanistic should bottom out. argue, drawing on examples peptidergic monoaminergic neurons, how processed determined by specific chemical reactions occurring individual neurons. Accordingly, need take into account involved.

Language: Английский

Citations

6