Contextualizing Systems Biology Presuppositions and Implications of a New Approach in Biology Contextualizing Systems Biology

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Contextualizing Systems Biology Presuppositions and Implications of a New Approach in Biology Contextualizing Systems Biology Martin Döring Imme Petersen Anne Brüninghaus Regine Kollek Contextualizing Systems Biology Presuppositions and Implications of a New Approach in Biology Contextualizing Systems Biology Martin Döring • Imme Petersen Anne Brüninghaus • Regine Kollek Contextualizing Systems Biology Presuppositions and Implications of a New Approach in Biology Martin Döring Imme Petersen University of Hamburg University of Hamburg Hamburg , Germany Hamburg , Germany Anne Brüninghaus Regine Kollek University of Hamburg University of Hamburg Hamburg , Germany Hamburg , Germany ISBN 978-3-319-17105-0 ISBN 978-3-319-17106-7 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-17106-7 Library of Congress Control Number: 2015944085 Springer Cham Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifi cally the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfi lms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specifi c statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Printed on acid-free paper Springer International Publishing AG Switzerland is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com) Pref ace This book explores the development of systems biology as a new approach to life. It is based on an empirical social study of science and analyzes the epistemic pre- conditions, infrastructural requirements, innovative potentials, and policy implica- tions of emerging and expanding concepts and practices of systems biology. In conducting the research that provided the basis for this publication we were inter- ested not only in systems biology’s capacity to give rise to a better understanding of complex biological entities such as cells or organisms but also in its cognitive, social, and policy framings and contexts. The results of the study show that systems biology is as complex as its objects of research, and that it also is an interdisciplin- ary enterprise which will most likely have a profound impact on our perception of life as well as on science itself. The overall aim of this book is to contribute to a better understanding of the implications nestling in the current shift in molecular biology towards a systems- oriented perspective for science and society. It was written for specialists of differ- ent academic disciplines as well as for experts coming from nonacademic fi elds. Talking about experts from academia, we do not only think about those from biol- ogy, informatics, physics or other natural sciences, or medicine but also think about scholars from the social and cultural studies of science, from history and philosophy of science, or from linguistics. And when we talk about experts from nonacademic fi elds, we mean anyone interested in scientifi c developments such as systems biology coming from science policy, science administration, or the media reporting about science. It is our mission to make science, its presuppositions and preconditions, as well as its implications, as transparent and accountable as possible. Therefore we tried—and we hope succeeded—to use a language that makes a complex, but v vi Preface nevertheless highly topical and important subject accessible to all of those who are interested in a more than superfi cial understanding of science and of how it shapes and is shaped by us, by society, and by culture. Hamburg, Germany Martin Döring Imme Petersen Anne Brüninghaus Regine Kollek Acknowledgments The study presented here and the research conducted would not have been possible without the participation of the many individuals who encouraged and supported our work. We are extremely grateful to all of them. First of all, we would like to thank scientists active in systems biology as well as experts from politics, adminis- tration, and the media, who were available for interviews and patiently answered our questions. Furthermore, we also thank the participants of the feedback- workshops at Charité Universitätsmedizin in Berlin and Technische Universität Braunschweig in Spring 2014 for open and inspiring discussions. The work presented here was conducted in the context of the research project Towards a holistic conception of life ? Epistemic presumptions and socio - cultural implications of systems biology (THCL; www.thcl.de ), which was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) (May 2010 to July 2014). THCL was part in the funding line Ethical, Legal, and Social Aspects of Genome Research (ELSA-GEN). We would like to thank Marina Schindel, Detlef Böcking, and Anja Heintze at Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) for taking care of all administrative and fi nancial issues and providing help when- ever necessary. THCL was carried out by the Research Centre for Biotechnology, Society and the Environment (FSP BIOGUM)—Research Group Medicine and Neurosciences at Universität Hamburg. The principle investigator of the project was Regine Kollek. Martin Döring (May 2010 to September 2012) and Imme Petersen (October 2012 to July 2014) were responsible for managing the project. Anne Brüninghaus, Martin Döring, and Imme Petersen conducted the empirical research presented in this book. Most of it was done in Germany, but partially also in Austria. This resulted inter alia in a comparative analysis of media representations of systems biology in Austria and Germany, which is included in this book. Part of the project was carried out in cooperation with Karen Kastenhofer and Helge Torgersen at the Institute for Technology Assessment (ITA) at the Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften in Vienna. However, this book presents the results of the research group at BIOGUM whereas the results of our cooperating partners at ITA have been published elsewhere. The close and continuous exchange with Karen Kastenhofer and Helge Torgersen vii viii Acknowledgments and the joint meetings and discussions in Vienna and Hamburg were extremely inspiring and fruitful; we thank both of them for this wonderful cooperation. We also would like to express our gratitude to those of our former colleagues who cooperated with us in the course of the EU project ACGT — Advancing Clinico - Genomic Clinical Trials on Cancer in the 6th Framework Program and who agreed to participate in the interviews for the case study reported in this book. In particular, we would like to thank Georgios Stamatakos (Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, National Technical University of Athens) for advice and assistance in under- standing the function of the oncosimulator and for proofreading Sect. 4.2 . The project was expertly advised by a scientifi c board whose members were Paul Martin (Department of Sociological Studies, University of Sheffi eld), Roger Strand (Centre for the Study of the Sciences and the Humanities, University of Bergen), Hans Westerhoff (Centre for Integrative Systems Biology, University of Manchester), and Ana Cãno-Delgado (Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics, Barcelona). We would like to thank all of them for advice and support and for participating in the inspiring project workshop on Different Forms of Life ? Comparative Perspectives on Systems and Synthetic Biology on January 19–20, 2012 in Hamburg. The interviews were transcribed by Rita Stark (Köln) and Angela Wiedl (East Aurora), and the translation of German interview citations was done by Sandra H. Lustig (Hamburg). Many thanks to all of them for their work! Last, but not least, we want to give thanks to our colleagues at the FSP BIOGUM, especially to Birgit Sonntag for giving excellent organizational and administrative support as well as for taking care of a constant supply of coffee, tea, and biscuits during long meetings and workshops and Moritz Hettrich for arranging the literature, formatting, and proof- reading the manuscript. Contents 1 Understanding Systems Biology: A Place for Social Science Analysis ....................................................................... 1 Regine Kollek , Imme Petersen , Anne Brüninghaus , and Martin Döring 2 Basic Concepts of Systems Biology as Seen Through Systems Biologists’ Eyes: Metaphorical Imagination and Epistemic Presuppositions ................................................................ 27 Martin Döring , Regine Kollek , Anne Brüninghaus , and Imme Petersen 3 Systems-Oriented Approaches in Biology: System Biologist’s Narratives of Present, Past, and Future .................. 119 Martin Döring , Anne Brüninghaus , Regine Kollek , and Imme Petersen 4 Systems Biology, Information Technology, and Cancer Research ................................................................................ 147 Imme Petersen , Regine Kollek , Anne Brüninghaus , and Martin
Recommended publications
  • Three Years of Stem Cell Research & Therapy
    Locke et al. Stem Cell Research & Therapy 2013, 4:46 http://stemcellres.com/content/4/3/46 EDITORIAL Three years of Stem Cell Research & Therapy Philippa Locke1*, Timothy O’Brien2 and Rocky S Tuan3 Editorial A responsible and respected publisher This year we celebrate three years of publication of Stem Since 2000, BioMed Central has been a pioneer of the Cell Research & Therapy. In this short space of time, as open access publishing model. A member of the Com- the number of journals in the stem cell and regenerative mittee on Publication Ethics (COPE), BioMed Central medicine field has grown and continues to grow dramat- regularly reviews its editorial policies and processes to ically, Stem Cell Research & Therapy has become ensure that they meet the highest standards [4]. All of established as the destination for high quality open ac- the research published in Stem Cell Research & Therapy cess research into stem cell therapeutics. is thoroughly peer-reviewed and deposited in a number of open access archives to ensure its continual availabil- ity [5]. Why Stem Cell Research & Therapy? When submitting work to a journal, authors understand- Our international, multidisciplinary Editorial Board ’ ably wish to be assured of the journal s quality. So what As well as assisting in the review of manuscripts, the Stem Cell Research & Therapy makes the leading forum Stem Cell Research & Therapy Editorial Board offers in- for translational stem cell research? valuable guidance on the journal’s commissioned con- tent and development. The Editorial Board members reflect the diversity in the field, from basic scientists to Scope, indexing, and impact clinicians, including surgeons [6].
    [Show full text]
  • Spelman K. Ecological Pharmacology
    C H A P T E R 27 Ecological Pharmacy: Molecular Biology to Systems Theory KEVIN SPELMAN First, the world of life, taken as a whole, forms a single system tional aspect of a system’s components gives us little bound to the surface of the earth; a system whose elements, in whatever indication of the behavior of the corresponding networks order of association they may be considered, are not simply thrown (Buehler, 2003a,b). The properties of a system cannot be together and molded upon one another like grains of sand, but are understood by accounting only for the properties of its organically interdependent like . molecules caught in a capillary components. surface. The medical sciences, and especially pharmacology, —TEILHARD DE CHARDIN, 1943 have fully embraced the reductionist construct, implying that human health can be reduced to the modulation of In the middle of the last century, some years before the specific genes and proteins. The laboratory modeling has, discovery of DNA, Erwin Schrödinger, in his classic 1944 until recently, limited observations to the interaction book What is Life?, inspired a generation of scientists with between one gene or protein with a single chemical. Such his timeless philosophical question: “How can the events simplistic modeling has led to some life-saving drugs, but in space and time which take place within the spatial has also lead to pharmaceutical drugs (even when properly boundary of a living organism be accounted for by physics prescribed) being an embarrassing and unfortunate lead- and chemistry?” (Schrödinger, 1944). To start at the micro- ing cause of death in the United States.
    [Show full text]
  • Examining Pre-Service Science Teachers' Opinions
    Available online at www.sciencedirect.com Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences 15 (2011) 2764–2770 WCES-2011 Examining pre-service science teachers’ opinions about holistic approach in science: Electrical energy example Özlem AltÕnkaynak YaylacÕa , Havva Yamakb, Nusret Kavakc aGazi University Institute of Science, Ankara bGazi University, Gazi Faculty of Education, Department of Science Education, 06500, Ankara cGazi University, Gazi Faculty of Education, Department of Chemistry Education, 06500, Ankara Abstract The aim of this study is to examine pre-service science teachers’ opinions about holistic approach to science. The participants of this case study consisted of 6 elementary pre-service science teachers. While choosing the participants, the electrical energy inventory was administered to 62 pre-service teachers. The data were collected by using a semi-structured individual interview. The findings of the study showed that pre-service science teachers have lack of knowledge and misconceptions about transmission of a nerve impulse, electrical circuit, and electrochemistry. In the lights of findings pre-service science teachers could not interrelate these concepts as holistically. © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Keywords: Pre-service science teacher, holism in science, electrical energy 1. Introduction Holism is in contrast to a purely analytic tradition (sometimes called reductionism) which aims to gain understanding of systems by dividing them into smaller composing elements and gaining understanding of the system through understanding their elemental properties. Holism in science, or Holistic science, is an approach to research that emphasizes the study of complex systems. The one of central aspects is the way of doing science, sometimes called "whole to parts," which focuses on observation of the specimen within its ecosystem first before breaking down to study any part of the specimen.
    [Show full text]
  • Quine's Revolution: Epistemological Holism in Science and Philosophy
    Quine’s Revolution: Epistemological Holism in Science and Philosophy David Paul Boaz To be is to be the value of a bound variable. —W. V. Quine “On What There Is”: Quine’s Ontological Relativity. Willard Van Orman Quine (1908– 2000) is considered by many in the philosophy trade to be the most important American philosopher of the 20th century. His Ontological Relativity (indeterminacy of reference, indeterminacy of translation) is the thesis that ontology—”what there is”—is relative to language, that is, to the subjective deep background reality assumptions in our individual and collective “web of belief” as it arises and is instantiated in language. (Epistemology is how we know what there is. There are no objective facts, only linguistic meanings.) In his seminal “Ontological Relativity” (1969) Quine develops his thesis that when a theory postulates its existent entities in a given language—its “object language”—it does so by translating its theory’s propositions (statements) about those entities into a more inclusive “meta-language,” langue (Saussure), or background matrix or web of prior assumptions and beliefs. The ontological status of entities or objects of the object language are relative to and supervene or are dependent upon the intersubjective prior cognitive “coordinate grid” that are the assumptions and beliefs of the meta-language into which they are translated. Unfortunately, through ontology is minimized, Quine’s personal ontological flavor is Physicalism. It’s all just physical, which explains his epistemology, namely empiricism and naturalism. Quine was never able to shake the imperious physicalist doctrine of his early teacher Rudolf Carnap and the Vienna Circle of the Logical Positivists.
    [Show full text]
  • Regenerative Medicine in China: Demands, Capacity, and Regulation Biao Cheng1,2, Shuliang Lu3 and Xiaobing Fu1,4*
    Cheng et al. Burns & Trauma (2016) 4:24 DOI 10.1186/s41038-016-0046-8 REVIEW Open Access Regenerative medicine in China: demands, capacity, and regulation Biao Cheng1,2, Shuliang Lu3 and Xiaobing Fu1,4* Abstract Regenerative medicine (RM) is an emerging interdisciplinary field of research. Its clinical application focuses on the repair, replacement, and regeneration of cells, tissues, and organs by approaches including cell reprogramming, stem cell transplantation, tissue engineering, activating factors, and clone treatment. RM has become a hot point of research in China and other countries. China’s main and local governments have attached great importance to RM and given strong support in relevant policies and funding. About 3.5 billion RMB has been invested in this field. Since 1999, China has established about 30 RM centers and cooperates with many advanced countries in RM research and benefits from their cooperation. However, China needs to develop standards, regulations, and management practices suitable for the healthy development of RM. In this review, we focus on its great demand, capacity, and relative regulations. Keywords: Regenerative medicine, Stem cell, Tissue engineering, China Background In the past 20 years, the RM market has continued Annually, about 100 million Chinese patients will receive to grow in China and other countries such as the treatment by tissue repair and regeneration technologies USA, Europe, Japan, and Singapore. As the largest because of the sharp increase in various injuries, acci- developing country, China has impressed the world dents, and diseases of aging. However, the current para- with its findings in stem cells, tissue engineering, digm of “healing by scar tissue replacement,” regardless of active molecules, and gene therapy as well as its na- superficial tissues or visceral organs, is stagnating and is tional strategies and regulation of RM.
    [Show full text]
  • Life & Physical Sciences
    2018 Media Kit Life & Physical Sciences Impactful Springer Nature brands, influential readership and content that drives discovery. ASTRONOMY SPRINGER NATURE .................................2 BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES OUR AUDIENCE & REACH ........................3 BIOPHARMA CELLULAR BIOLOGY ADVERTISING SOLUTIONS & CHEMISTRY EARTH SCIENCES PARTNERING OPPORTUNITIES .................6 ELECTRONICS JOURNAL AUDIENCE & CALENDARS .........8 ENERGY ENGINEERING SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES ......................17 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES GENETICS A-Z JOURNAL LIST ...............................19 IMMUNOLOGY, MICROBIOLOGY LIFE SCIENCES MATERIALS SCIENCES MEDICINE METHODS, PROTOCOLS MULTIDISCIPLINARY NEUROLOGY, NEUROSCIENCE ONCOLOGY, CANCER RESEARCH PHARMACOLOGY PHYSICS PLANT SCIENCES SPRINGER NATURE SPRINGER NATURE QUALITY CONTENT Springer Nature is a leading publisher of scientific, scholarly, professional and educational content. For more than a century, our brands have set the scientific agenda. We’ve published ground-breaking work on many fundamental achievements, including the splitting of the atom, the structure of DNA, and the discovery of the hole in the ozone layer, as well as the latest advances in stem-cell research and the results of the ENCODE project. Our dominance in the scientific publishing market comes from a company-wide philosophy to uphold the highest level of quality for our readers, authors and commercial partners. Our family of trusted scientific brands receive 131 MILLION* page views each month reaching an audience
    [Show full text]
  • Easychair Preprint Adaptive Intelligence
    EasyChair Preprint № 2295 Adaptive Intelligence - catalysing an evolutionary economic transformation Claudius van Wyk EasyChair preprints are intended for rapid dissemination of research results and are integrated with the rest of EasyChair. January 2, 2020 20th UK Systems Society International Conference - 24th June 2019 Systems Thinking and the Circular Economy Executive Business Centre, Bournemouth University Title: Accessing Complex Adaptive Intelligence for a Circular Economy - a Meta-Perspective. Abstract: This multidisciplinary meta-perspective offers complex adaptive intelligence (CAI) as a holistic approach capable of integrating epistemology and ontology with behavioural and evolutionary economics to assist the implementation of a circular economy. We propose (CAI) as an inherent capacity of all living systems at different levels of evolutionary development. By modelling the structures of subjective experience humankind can re- access this capacity. This will help fast-track the epistemological shift required to transform prevailing economics from the extractive practices degrading our life- sustaining milieu, to sustainability. We address the dichotomous tension between epistemology and ontology in economic theory from a phenomenological perspective. As such ‘experience’ unifies subject and object and accesses CAI by enlisting the motivational role of emotions, as energy seeking purpose. The ontological view embraces evolutionary economic practice to challenge prevailing assumptions embedded in economic epistemology. The incremental social and economic impact arising from those assumptions emphasises the need for a shift from a mechanistic and linear, to an organismic and non-linear viewpoint. Autopoiesis, as self- organisation, characterises living systems and, as such, ultimately defines ‘complex adaptive intelligence’. This insight will be able to inform a new economic narrative to support sustainable approaches, such as the circular economy.
    [Show full text]
  • Springer Nature 开放获取期刊列表 按学科分类,影响因子为2019年6月发布
    springernature.com Illustration inspired by the work of Jean-Claude Bradley Open Access Journals SPRINGER NATURE 开放获取期刊列表 按学科分类,影响因子为2019年6月发布 2019 年7月印 2 Springer Nature springernature.com 开放获取期刊列表 Multidisciplinary学科分类目录 Sciences . .4 综合性学科 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences . 4 农业与兽医科学. Forestry, Agriculture and Food Science . .4 林学、农学&食品科学 Veterinary Sciences . .4 兽医学 Biological Sciences 5 生物科学 . Biology Multidisciplinary . .5 综合性生物科学 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology . 5 生物化学与分子生物学 Bioinformation & Computational biology . .5 生物信息学与计算生物学 Cell Biology, Developmental Biology & Physiology 5 细 胞 、发 育 、生 理 生 物 学 Ecology . .6 生态学 Evolutionary Biology . 6 进化生物学 Genetics & Heredity 6 基因与遗传学 . Microbiology . 7 微生物学 Neurosciences . .7 神经科学 Other Biological Science . .8 s 其他生物科学 Plant Biology . .9 植物学 Zoology & Entomology 9 动物学与昆虫学 . Business, Economics & Law . .9 商 业 ,经 济 学 与 法 学 Chemistry . .10 化学 Earth & Environmental Sciences . 11 地质学与环境科学 Energy . 11 能源学 Engineering . 12 工程学 Mathematics & Statistics . 13 数学与统计学 Material Sciences . 13 材料科学 Medical & Health Sciences . .14 医学与健康科学 Medicine Multidisciplinary . .14 综合性医学 . 14 Anesthesiology 麻醉学 Cardiorespiratory Medicine/Haematology . .14 心肺医学与血液学 Clinical Neurology . .. .15 临床神经学 Complementary and Integrative Medicine . 15 补充医学 Critical Care & Emergency Medicine . 16 重症监护与急救医学 Dermatology . 16 皮肤病学 Endocrinology & Metabolism . .16 内分泌与代谢 Gastroenterology & Hepatology . 16 胃肠病与肝病学 General/Experimental/Other Medicineand Health Sciences 其他医学与 . 16 健康科学 Geriatrics & Gerontology . 17 老年学 Springer Nature springernature.com 3 开放获取期刊列表 Health Policy & Health Care Services . .17 卫生政策与卫生保健服务 Immunology/Rheumatology/Allergy . 18 风 湿 、免 疫 与 过 敏 学 Infectious Diseases . 18 感染病学 Medical Ethics & Information . 18 医学伦理学与信息学 Nutrition & Dietetics . 19 营养学 Obstetrics & Gynecology . 19 妇产科学 Oncology . 19 肿瘤学 Ophthalmology . 20 眼科学 Orthopedics 骨科学 . ..20 Otorhinolaryngology & Dentistry 耳鼻喉学与口腔医学 . .21 Pathology&Medical Physiology 病理与生理学 .
    [Show full text]
  • UN DESD Via the Journal of Teacher Education for Sustainability
    DOI: 10.1515/jtes-2015-0009 Journal of Teacher Education for Sustainability, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 5ñ43, 2015 Developing Research in Teacher Education for Sustainability: UN DESD via the Journal of Teacher Education for Sustainability Anita Pipere Daugavpils University, Latvia Marika Veisson Tallinn University, Estonia Ilga SalÓte Daugavpils University, Latvia Abstract This study marks the end of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development that coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Baltic and Black Sea Circle Consortium on Educational Research (BBCC), and aims to analyse the research output performance of BBCC members and other scholars published in the Journal of Teacher Education for Sustainability (JTEFS) during this last decade. Using the methodology of bibliometric study and literature review, the authors describe the main bibliographic indicators of JTEFS and provide a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the research paradigms and their developmental changes in the papers published by JTEFS (2005ñ2014). The results of the study show that in general the journal has evolved in line with the advanced trends in educational research, research in teacher education, research in sustainability education and sustainability studies in higher education. The analysis of published papers indicates both the progress and issues of research in teacher education for sustainability. The authors conclude with some visionary insights into the further development of JTEFS and this research field in general. Keywords: JTEFS, teacher education, sustainability, research paradigm, bibliometrics To achieve its goals, research in any discipline needs to be disseminated both locally and globally, and for novel fields of study, the establishment of academic periodicals designates a certain maturity and illustrates striving towards academic quality and recognition.
    [Show full text]
  • Occupational Therapy & PB
    OT and BM Table of Contents Medical – Therapy linkages ....................................................................................................... 2 OT is a CAS ............................................................................................................................... 3 Agriculture (in ecology permaculture is holistic) .............................................................. 3 Chaos and complexity ........................................................................................................ 3 Holism read whole’ism .............................................................................................................. 4 Proprioception ............................................................................................................................ 4 OT and BM ................................................................................................................................ 4 Paul Wildman [email protected] @ 09-12-2017 comm. 28-11-2017 1000 words over 4pgs 1 Medical – Therapy linkages https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/1157170 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_therapy 2 OT is a CAS OT – Occupational Therapy1 , CAS - Complex Adaptive System2. Main source article: Holism in science Agriculture (in ecology permaculture is holistic) There are several newer methods in agricultural science such as permaculture and holistic planned grazing (holistic management) that integrate ecology and social sciences with food production. Organic farming
    [Show full text]
  • Biomed Central Open-Access Research That Covers a Broad Range of Disciplines, and Reaches Influencers and Decision Makers
    The Open Access Publisher 2017 Media Kit BioMed Central Open-access research that covers a broad range of disciplines, and reaches influencers and decision makers. CHEMISTRY SPRINGER NATURE.................2 - BIOCHEMISTRY - GENERAL CHEMISTRY OUR SOLUTIONS.....................3 HEALTH JOURNALS & DISCIPLINES......5 - HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH - PUBLIC HEALTH BIOLOGY - BIOINFORMATICS - CELL & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY - GENERICS AND GENOMICS - NEUROSCIENCE MEDICINE - CANCER - CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS - CRITICAL, INTENSIVE CARE AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE - IMMUNOLOGY - INFECTIOUS DISEASES SPRINGER NATURE SPRINGER NATURE QUALITY CONTENT RESEARCHERS, CLINICIANS, DOCTORS Springer Nature is a leading publisher of scientific, scholarly, professional EARLY-CAREER and educational content. For over a century, our brands have been setting the 20 JOURNALS RANK #1 PROFESSORS, SCIENTISTS, IN 1 OR MORE SUBJECT LIBRARIANS, scientific agenda. We’ve published ground-breaking work on many fundamental STUDENTS CATEGORY* EDUCATORS achievements, including the splitting of the atom, the structure of DNA, and the 9 OF THE TOP 20 SCIENCE JOURNALS BY IMPACT discovery of the hole in the ozone layer, as well as the latest advances in stem- FACTOR* MORE NOBEL LAUREATES cell research and the results of the ENCODE project. BOARD-LEVEL PUBLISHED WITH US THAN ANY POLICY-MAKERS, SENIOR MANAGERS OTHER SCIENTIFIC PUBLISHER OPINION LEADERS Our dominance in the scientific publishing market comes from a company- wide philosophy to uphold the highest level of quality for our readers, authors
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Philosophy As a Guide in Complex Scientific and Technological Processes, A
    The Role of Philosophy as a Guide in Complex Scientific and Technological Processes, A. Driessen, 17-9-2016 Page 1 of 16 The Role of Philosophy as a Guide in Complex Scientific and Technological Processes Alfred Driessen, prof. emer. University of Twente p/a Jan Luijkenstraat 52 1071 CS Amsterdam [email protected] Abstract Probably the most challenging issue in science and advanced technology is the ever increasing complexity. The term complexity refers to the experience that the complex whole is more than the sum of the parts. Emergence of new properties is observed at all levels, from relatively simple physical systems up to high-end evolution in biology or state-of-the-art microprocessors in technology. In this study an effort is made to arrive at an understanding of the underlying ontological basis in terms of the classical philosophy of Aristotle and Aquinas. In addition, the value of philosophy is emphasized as a means to develop the capacity for intuition. Only with this capacity it is possible to acquire an understanding of the great variety of concepts needed in the multidisciplinary approach to complex systems. Keywords: complexity; emergence, hylomorphism, analogy of being, intuition Outline 1. Introduction 2. Complexity in Science and Technology 3. Cognitive processes in human beings 4. Hierarchy in the material world and the analogy of being 5. A tentative philosophy of complexity 6. Conclusions The Role of Philosophy as a Guide in Complex Scientific and Technological Processes, A. Driessen, 17-9-2016 Page 2 of 16 1. Introduction Many of us have played with mechanical toys as children, mostly nicely arranged in a box.
    [Show full text]