Description
Book SynopsisWhat are individuals? How can they be identified? These are crucial questions for philosophers and scientists alike. Criteria of individuality seem to differ markedly between metaphysics and the empirical sciences - and this might well explain why no work has hitherto attempted to relate the contributions of metaphysics, physics and biology on this question. This timely volume brings together various strands of research into ''individuality'', examining how different sciences handle the issue, and reflecting on how this scientific work relates to metaphysical concerns. The collection makes a major contribution to clarifying and overcoming obstacles to the construction of a general conception of the individual adequate for both physics and biology, and perhaps even beyond.
Trade ReviewWithout a doubt, the individual contributions advance particular individuality debates in valuable ways. There is work that extends several influential approaches to individuality in biology. * Karen Kovaka, Studies in History and Philosophy of the Biological and Biomedical Sciences *
Table of ContentsContents ; Chapter 1: Introduction: Progressive steps towards a unified conception of individuality ; across the sciences ; Alexandre Guay & Thomas Pradeu ; Part 1: Metaphysical and logical foundations to individuality ; Chapter 2: Why individuality matters ; Stephane Chauvier ; A foreword to Jonathan Lowe's chapter ; Alexander Bird ; Chapter 3: Non-Individuals ; Jonathan Lowe ; Chapter 4: Individuality, quantum physics, and a metaphysics of non-individuals: the ; role of the formal ; Krause and Arenhart ; Part 2: Puzzles about individuals in biology and physics ; Chapter 5: Individuality and Life Cycles ; Peter Godfrey-Smith ; Chapter 6: What Biofilms Can Teach Us About Individuality ; Marc Ereshefsky and Makmiller Pedroso ; Chapter 7: Cell and Body: Individuals in Stem Cell Biology ; Melinda Fagan ; Chapter 8: Collective individuals: parallels between joint action and biological ; individuality ; Cedric Paternotte ; Chapter 9: On the Emergence of Individuals in Physics ; Simon Saunders ; Chapter 10: Are there individuals in physics and if so what are they? ; James Ladyman ; Chapter 11: Minimal Structural Essentialism: Why Physics Doesn't Care Which is ; Which ; David Glick ; Chapter 12: Bohm's approach and individuality ; Paavo Pylkkanen, Basil J. Hiley, and Ilkka Pattiniemi ; Chapter 13: Branch-Relative Identity ; Christina Conroy ; Part 3: Beyond disciplinary borders ; Chapter 14: The Metaphysics of Individuality and the Sciences ; Matteo Morganti ; Chapter 15: The Biological and the Mereological: Metaphysical Implications of the ; Individuality Thesis ; Matt Haber ; Chapter 16: To Be Continued: The Genidentity of Physical and Biological Processes ; Alexandre Guay and Thomas Pradeu ; Chapter 17: Experimental Realization of Individuality ; Ruey-Lin Chen ; Chapter 18: Eliminating Objects Across the Sciences ; Steven French
