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Dissecting the Meanings of “Physiology” to Assess the Vitality of the Discipline

Lemoine, Maël and Pradeu, Thomas (2018) Dissecting the Meanings of “Physiology” to Assess the Vitality of the Discipline. Physiology, 33 (4). pp. 236-245. ISSN 1548-9213

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Abstract

The vitality of physiology is currently under debate. Some say that physiology is a dying discipline in the era of molecular medicine and systems biology, whereas others claim that physiology remains a key biological and medical discipline, due in part to its integrative nature. In this conceptual review, we argue that any assessment of the vitality of physiology depends heavily on the definition of this discipline adopted. We examine two main conceptions of physiology, one focusing on its object (what physiology is about), and the other on the methods used (how physiologists study the biological reality). We contend that physiology no longer encompasses all biological disciplines and may no longer be the only synoptic biological science. However, far from indicating a sterility of this discipline, this situation should drive physiology to re-invent its relationship with these other biological domains.


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Item Type: Published Article or Volume
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Lemoine, Maël
Pradeu, Thomas
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Biology
Specific Sciences > Biology > Developmental Biology
Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory
Specific Sciences > Biology > Function/Teleology
Specific Sciences > Biology > Molecular Biology/Genetics
Specific Sciences > Medicine > Health and Disease
Specific Sciences > Medicine
Specific Sciences > Neuroscience
Depositing User: Thomas Pradeu
Date Deposited: 31 Oct 2019 05:43
Last Modified: 31 Oct 2019 05:43
Item ID: 16589
Journal or Publication Title: Physiology
Official URL: http://doi.org/10.1152/physiol.00015.2018
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.1152/physiol.00015.2018
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Biology
Specific Sciences > Biology > Developmental Biology
Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory
Specific Sciences > Biology > Function/Teleology
Specific Sciences > Biology > Molecular Biology/Genetics
Specific Sciences > Medicine > Health and Disease
Specific Sciences > Medicine
Specific Sciences > Neuroscience
Date: 2018
Page Range: pp. 236-245
Volume: 33
Number: 4
ISSN: 1548-9213
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/16589

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