Kranke, Nina (2021) Do concepts of individuality account for individuation practices in studies of host-parasite systems? A modelling account of biological individuality. [Preprint]
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Abstract
In recent discussions the widespread conviction that scientific individuation practices are governed by theories and concepts of biological individuality has been challenged, particularly by advocates of practice-based approaches. This discussion raises questions about the relationship between individuation practices and concepts of individuality. To explore this relationship, I discuss four scientific studies of host-parasite systems and analyze the respective individuation practices to see whether they correspond to established concepts of biological individuality. My analysis suggests that scientists individuate biological systems on different levels of organization and that the researchers’ respective emphasis on one of the levels depends on the research context as well as epistemic aims and purposes. Thus, it makes sense to use different concepts of individuality to account for different individuation practices. However, not all individuation practices are represented equally well by concepts of biological individuality. The discrepancy between theory and practice results from a reciprocal dependence of inner-scientific and meta-scientific concepts of individuality and individuation practices where concept formation is informed by empirical findings and vice versa. To account for this observation, I propose that concepts of individuality should be understood as abstracted, idealized, or simplified models that only represent certain aspects of scientific practice. A modelling account suggests a pluralistic view of concepts of biological individuality that not only allows the coexistence of different kinds of individuality (e.g. evolutionary individuality, immunological individuality, ecological individuality) but also of normative and descriptive concepts.
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| Item Type: | Preprint | ||||||
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| Keywords: | biological individuality, individuation practices, models, pluralism, host-parasite interaction, host-parasite co-evolution | ||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Biology General Issues > Models and Idealization |
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| Depositing User: | Nina Kranke | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 31 Jan 2021 03:18 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 31 Jan 2021 03:18 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 18658 | ||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Biology General Issues > Models and Idealization |
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| Date: | 30 January 2021 | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/18658 |
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Do concepts of individuality account for individuation practices in studies of host-parasite systems? A modelling account of biological individuality. (deposited 20 Jan 2021 14:29)
- Do concepts of individuality account for individuation practices in studies of host-parasite systems? A modelling account of biological individuality. (deposited 31 Jan 2021 03:18) [Currently Displayed]
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