Lean, Christopher (2019) Can Communities Cause? [Preprint]

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Abstract

Lynch et al. 2019 propose an extremely useful framework to assess microbiome research. By utilising advances in the causation literature, they argue that many of the claims in microbiome research are ‘weak or misleading’ as these claims lack stability, specificity, or proportionality. In the final paragraph before the conclusion they entertain and rapidly dismiss the ‘ecological version’ of microbiomes, in which microbiome properties are emergent from their constituent populations and can fulfil Koch’s postulates. I assess the possibility of microbiomes having emergent causal efficacy on host health and suggest they can.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Lean, Christopher christopher.hunter.lean@gmail.com 0000-0001-5722-6471
Additional Information:	Commentary for: Lynch, K. E., Parke, E. C., O’Malley, M. A. How Causal are Microbiomes? A Comparison with the Helicobacter pylori Explanation of Ulcers. Biology and Philosophy
Keywords:	Philosophy of Ecology; Communities; Microbiome; Causation; Specificity; Microbiology; Health
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Ecology/Conservation General Issues > Causation General Issues > Experimentation Specific Sciences > Medicine > Health and Disease
Depositing User:	Dr Christopher Lean
Date Deposited:	24 Oct 2019 02:23
Last Modified:	24 Oct 2019 02:23
Item ID:	16569
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Ecology/Conservation General Issues > Causation General Issues > Experimentation Specific Sciences > Medicine > Health and Disease
Date:	2019
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/16569

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