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Autonomous Systems and the Place of Biology Among Sciences. Perspectives for an Epistemology of Complex Systems

Bich, Leonardo (2021) Autonomous Systems and the Place of Biology Among Sciences. Perspectives for an Epistemology of Complex Systems. Multiplicity and Interdisciplinarity. Essays in Honor of Eliano Pessa. pp. 41-57.

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Abstract

This paper discusses the epistemic status of biology from the standpoint of the systemic approach to living systems based on the notion of biological autonomy. This approach aims to provide an understanding of the distinctive character of biological systems and this paper analyses its theoretical and epistemological dimensions. The paper argues that, considered from this perspective, biological systems are examples of emergent phenomena, that the biological domain exhibits special features with respect to other domains, and that biology as a discipline employs some core concepts, such as teleology, function, regulation among others, that are irreducible to those employed in physics and chemistry. It addresses the claim made by Jacques Monod that biology as a science is marginal. It argues that biology is general insofar as it constitutes a paradigmatic example of complexity science, both in terms of how it defines the theoretical object of study and of the epistemology and heuristics employed. As such, biology may provide lessons that can be applied more widely to develop an epistemology of complex systems.


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Item Type: Published Article or Volume
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Bich, Leonardoleonardo.bich@ehu.es0000-0002-2416-112X
Keywords: autonomy; emergence; biology; complex systems; life
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Biology
Specific Sciences > Biology > Function/Teleology
Specific Sciences > Complex Systems
General Issues > Explanation
General Issues > Philosophers of Science
Depositing User: Dr. Leonardo Bich
Date Deposited: 02 Aug 2021 14:47
Last Modified: 02 Aug 2021 14:47
Item ID: 19398
Journal or Publication Title: Multiplicity and Interdisciplinarity. Essays in Honor of Eliano Pessa
Publisher: Springer
Official URL: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-03...
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.1007/978-3-030-71877-0_4
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Biology
Specific Sciences > Biology > Function/Teleology
Specific Sciences > Complex Systems
General Issues > Explanation
General Issues > Philosophers of Science
Date: 2021
Page Range: pp. 41-57
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/19398

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