Reposted from the University of Exeter link HERE.
A Process Ontology for Contemporary Biology
ERC Advanced Investigator Award, Grant Agreement #324186
This project has three central aims. The first is to rethink central
issues in the philosophy of biology by elaborating an ontology for
biology that takes full account of the processual nature of living
systems. Starting with a careful survey of existing positions,
especially Whitehead and the American Pragmatists, the goal will be to
develop a concept of process adequate for addressing the multiple levels
of interacting processes at different time scales characteristic of
living systems. The concept of a stable biological thing will be
analysed as a stabilised process relative to an appropriate time
scale, and this conception should make possible a better
understanding of familiar biological pluralisms (about genes, organisms,
species, etc…) in terms of different ways in which distinct scientific
practices intersect with biological processes.
Second, the concept of process developed will be used to rethink some
highly topical issues in contemporary philosophy of biology (and
philosophy of science generally). The project will explore the
potential of a processual perspective to provide a critique of widely
discussed recent versions of mechanism. The latter have been deployed to
offer accounts of explanation and, eventually, causation. Such accounts
will be assessed for the possibility of revision in the light of
modifications suggested by a processual perspective. The project will
explore generally the relevance of this perspective to influential
contemporary accounts of causation and explanation.
Finally the project will apply the preceding ideas to
several highly active and important areas of contemporary biology:
systems biology, synthetic biology, and microbiology. These
investigations, in fact, will be carried on in parallel with the more
general philosophical enquiries, with the idea that the two will be
mutually informative: the philosophical analyses will not only be
applied to scientific concepts, but will also themselves be evaluated
for their relevance to real cutting edge biology. This evaluation will
be guided by interaction with scientific practitioners and an expert
Advisory Board, as well as text-based study. The project aims to be of
direct relevance to both philosophy and science.
Some preliminary attempts to address some of these issues can be
found in J. Dupré, Processes of Life: Essays in the Philosophy of
Biology, OUP 2012, especially parts 2 and 3.
The project will employ three postdoctoral research fellows. The
first, currently recruiting, is a four year Associate Research
Fellowship. The appointee will work closely with the PI on all aspects
of the project.
To apply, please complete an application form, your CV and covering letter with the contact details of three referees to Hanan Price (H.Price@exeter.ac.uk) quoting the reference number P45222 in any correspondence.
To download the application and equal opportunities form please follow the below links;
Two further posts will be advertised during the academic year
2013-14. These will be to work specifically on the application of the
project themes to (i) systems and synthetic biology, and (ii)
microbiology. Anyone interested in any of these posts is welcome to
contact the PI at j.a.dupre@exeter.ac.uk.
