Genetics And Reductionism

Author : Sahotra Sarkar
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 260 pages
File Size : 55,6 Mb
Release : 1998-10-13
Category : Nature
ISBN : 0521637139

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Genetics and Reductionism by Sahotra Sarkar Pdf

With the advent of the Human Genome Project there have been many claims for the genetic origins of complex human behavior including insanity, criminality, and intelligence. But what does it really mean to call something 'genetic'? This is the fundamental question that Sahotra Sarkar's book addresses. The author analyses the nature of reductionism in classical and molecular genetics. He shows that there are two radically different kinds of reductionist explanation: genetic reduction (as found in classical genetics) and physical reduction (found in molecular genetics). This important book clarifies the meaning of the term 'genetic', shows how molecular studies have affected genetics, and provides the philosophical background necessary to understand the debates over the Human Genome Project. It will be of particular interest to professionals and students in the philosophy of science, the history of science, and the social studies of science, medicine, and technology.

Author : Paul Griffiths,Karola Stotz
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 279 pages
File Size : 44,8 Mb
Release : 2013-04-18
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781107002128

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Genetics and Philosophy by Paul Griffiths,Karola Stotz Pdf

This book integrates the work of philosophers of science seeking to make sense of genetics with an accessible introduction to the science.

Author : Christian Sachse
Publisher : Walter de Gruyter
Page : 334 pages
File Size : 49,6 Mb
Release : 2013-05-02
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9783110323320

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Reductionism in the Philosophy of Science by Christian Sachse Pdf

In contemporary philosophy of science, ontological reductionism, or the claim that everything that exists in the world is something physical, is the consensus mainstream position. Contrary to a widespread belief, this book establishes that ontological and epistemological reductionism stand or fall together. The author proposes a new strategy of conservative theory reduction that operates by means of the construction of functional sub-concepts that are coextensional with physical concepts. Thus, a complete conservative reductionism is established that vindicates both the indispensable scientific character of the special sciences and their reducibility to physics. The second part of the book works this strategy out, using the example of classical and molecular genetics.

Author : Marc H. V. Van Regenmortel,David L. Hull
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Page : 382 pages
File Size : 44,5 Mb
Release : 2003-02-07
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780470854174

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Promises and Limits of Reductionism in the Biomedical Sciences by Marc H. V. Van Regenmortel,David L. Hull Pdf

Reductionism as a scientific methodology has been extraordinarily successful in biology. However, recent developments in molecular biology have shown that reductionism is seriously inadequate in dealing with the mind-boggling complexity of integrated biological systems. This title presents an appropriate balance between science and philosophy and covers traditional philosophical treatments of reductionism as well as the benefits and shortcomings of reductionism in particular areas of science. Discussing the issue of reductionism in the practice of medicine it takes into account the holistic and integrative aspects that require the context of the patient in his biological and psychological entirety. The emerging picture is that what first seems like hopeless disagreements turn out to be differences in emphasis. Although genes play an important role in biology, the focus on genetics and genomics has often been misleading. The consensus view leads to pluralism: both reductionst methods and a more integrative approach to biological complexity are required, depending on the questions that are asked. * An even balance of contributions from scientists and philosophers of science - representing a unique interchange between both communities interested in reductionism

Author : Kostas Kampourakis
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 319 pages
File Size : 50,9 Mb
Release : 2017-03-30
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781107567498

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Making Sense of Genes by Kostas Kampourakis Pdf

What are genes? What do genes do? These seemingly simple questions are in fact challenging to answer accurately. As a result, there are widespread misunderstandings and over-simplistic answers, which lead to common conceptions widely portrayed in the media, such as the existence of a gene 'for' a particular characteristic or disease. In reality, the DNA we inherit interacts continuously with the environment and functions differently as we age. What our parents hand down to us is just the beginning of our life story. This comprehensive book analyses and explains the gene concept, combining philosophical, historical, psychological and educational perspectives with current research in genetics and genomics. It summarises what we currently know and do not know about genes and the potential impact of genetics on all our lives. Making Sense of Genes is an accessible but rigorous introduction to contemporary genetics concepts for non-experts, undergraduate students, teachers and healthcare professionals.

Author : Alexander Rosenberg
Publisher : University of Chicago Press
Page : 276 pages
File Size : 45,8 Mb
Release : 2008-09-15
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780226727318

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Darwinian Reductionism by Alexander Rosenberg Pdf

After the discovery of the structure of DNA in 1953, scientists working in molecular biology embraced reductionism—the theory that all complex systems can be understood in terms of their components. Reductionism, however, has been widely resisted by both nonmolecular biologists and scientists working outside the field of biology. Many of these antireductionists, nevertheless, embrace the notion of physicalism—the idea that all biological processes are physical in nature. How, Alexander Rosenberg asks, can these self-proclaimed physicalists also be antireductionists? With clarity and wit, Darwinian Reductionism navigates this difficult and seemingly intractable dualism with convincing analysis and timely evidence. In the spirit of the few distinguished biologists who accept reductionism—E. O. Wilson, Francis Crick, Jacques Monod, James Watson, and Richard Dawkins—Rosenberg provides a philosophically sophisticated defense of reductionism and applies it to molecular developmental biology and the theory of natural selection, ultimately proving that the physicalist must also be a reductionist.

Author : Michael Esfeld,Christian Sachse
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 212 pages
File Size : 53,6 Mb
Release : 2011-05-09
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781136728501

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Conservative Reductionism by Michael Esfeld,Christian Sachse Pdf

Conservative Reductionism sets out a new theory of the relationship between physics and the special sciences within the framework of functionalism. It argues that it is wrong-headed to conceive an opposition between functional and physical properties (or functional and physical descriptions, respectively) and to build an anti-reductionist argument on multiple realization. By contrast, (a) all properties that there are in the world, including the physical ones, are functional properties in the sense of being causal properties, and (b) all true descriptions (laws, theories) that the special sciences propose can in principle be reduced to physical descriptions (laws, theories) by means of functional reduction, despite multiple realization. The book develops arguments for (a) from the metaphysics of properties and the philosophy of physics. These arguments lead to a conservative ontological reductionism. It then develops functional reduction into a fully-fledged, conservative theory reduction by means of introducing functional sub-types that are coextensive with physical types, illustrating that conservative reductionism by means of case studies from biology (notably the relationship between classical and molecular genetics).

Author : Kostas Kampourakis
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 241 pages
File Size : 45,7 Mb
Release : 2021-11-04
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781108835473

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Understanding Genes by Kostas Kampourakis Pdf

An accessible but rigorous introduction to genes for non-experts, explaining what genes are and what they can and cannot do.

Author : Richard Lewontin,Steven Rose,Leon J. Kamin
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 48,7 Mb
Release : 2017
Category : Behavior genetics
ISBN : 1608467279

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Not in Our Genes by Richard Lewontin,Steven Rose,Leon J. Kamin Pdf

Three eminent scientists analyze the scientific, social, and political roots of biological determinism.

Author : Gerard M. Verschuuren
Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 50,9 Mb
Release : 2017-02
Category : Biology
ISBN : 1542888484

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The Holism-Reductionism Debate by Gerard M. Verschuuren Pdf

This book is an introduction into the reductionism-holism debate, for aspiring as well as accomplished scientists. It is intended for those working in, or preparing for, research in any scientific field-ranging from the physical sciences to the life sciences to the behavioral sciences and the social sciences. It is certainly not meant for people specialized in areas dealing with the specific issue of reductionism in a strict philosophical sense; they won't learn much new from this book. In other words, this is not a monograph with specialized, original research, but rather an initiation into the debate-more like an introductory textbook, if you will.

Author : Mark L. Y. Chan,Roland Chia
Publisher : ATF Press
Page : 244 pages
File Size : 41,5 Mb
Release : 2003
Category : Genetic engineeing
ISBN : 1920691014

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Beyond Determinism and Reductionism by Mark L. Y. Chan,Roland Chia Pdf

The twenty-first century has been dubbed the Biotech Century. The explosive increase in our knowledge of the human genome continues to fuel speculations on the possibilities of human genetic modifications. This has been greeted with either enthusiasm or anxiety, for alongside the many euphoric pronouncements about potential benefits are serious questions about the impact of biotechnology and the prospect of manipulating molecular information. What impact will breakthroughs in genetic science will have on our understanding of the human person and the shape of human society? Is the significance of the human person reducible to his or her genetic make-up? What part do our genes play in determining human behaviour, and how would this affect our understanding of human freedom? Drawing on an international panel of writers representing different disciplinary perspectives and a number of Christian traditions, this book seeks to assess the impact of recent developments in genetic science on the Christian understanding of the human person. The essays in this volume address these concerns.

Author : Robert F. Weir,Susan C. Lawrence,Evan Fales
Publisher : University of Iowa Press
Page : 274 pages
File Size : 44,7 Mb
Release : 1994
Category : Psychology
ISBN : 1587292483

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Genes and Human Self-knowledge by Robert F. Weir,Susan C. Lawrence,Evan Fales Pdf

Author : Paul Hoyningen-Huene,Franz M. Wuketits
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
Page : 191 pages
File Size : 42,6 Mb
Release : 2012-12-06
Category : Science
ISBN : 9789400910034

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Reductionism and Systems Theory in the Life Sciences by Paul Hoyningen-Huene,Franz M. Wuketits Pdf

The present volume aims at giving a discussion ot the problems ot reductionism in contemporary life sciences. It contains six papers which deals with reduction/reductionism in different fields ot biological research. Also, the holistic perspective, 1. e. the systems view, is discussed in some ot the papers. The message ot this discussion Is that - whereas reductionism is indeed an important strategy - the systems approach is needed. It is argued by some ot the authors that organisms are complex systems and not just heaps of molecules, 50 that the analytical method does not suffice. Recent developments in systems theory offer the possibility to install a more comprehensive view ot living systems what can be seen particularly in the field ot evolutionary biology. It is true that any organismic activity is molecular, this is to say that it is based on molecular mechanisms. But it is also true that the whole organism displays certain patterns ot behavior which are not just molecular. Any organism can be described as a system ot different levels ot organization different levels ot order and complexity - and it is important, theretore, to study all ot the organizational levels and to see their peculiarities. It should be obvious, however, that there is not one problem ot reduction/reductionism, but that there are many problems linked together and that these problems appear at different levels ot biological research and bio philosophical reflections.

Author : Denis R. Alexander
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 253 pages
File Size : 41,5 Mb
Release : 2020-10
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781108426336

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Are We Slaves to our Genes? by Denis R. Alexander Pdf

Genetic differences can influence differences in our human behaviours, but only occasionally undermine the reality of our free will.

Author : Harold W. Baillie,Timothy Casey
Publisher : MIT Press
Page : 442 pages
File Size : 42,9 Mb
Release : 2005
Category : Electronic books
ISBN : 0262524287

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Is Human Nature Obsolete? by Harold W. Baillie,Timothy Casey Pdf

An interdisciplinary exploration of whether modern genetics and bioengineering are leading us to a posthuman future.