Understanding the relation between parts and whole in the biological realm. A metaphysical and epistemological analysis.

Abstract

This thesis explores the relationship between parts and wholes in the biological context. This topic is significant in philosophy and the sciences. Philosophical discussions have examined the nature of things, encompassing the evaluation of structures and organisations within various entities. In parallel, biological sciences often approach the analysis of biological entities by considering their composition of interconnected parts and wholes. Commonly biological entities are decomposed into parts to study biological systems. Still, the nature and the use of this relation between biological wholes and their parts have been taken for granted.

For this reason, the objective of this research will focus on analysing from an ontological and epistemological perspective regarding this topic. The ontological one addresses how the relation between parts and whole can be configured in the biological world, evaluating the central role of control and regulation action in configuring this relation, highlighting that this action not only constraint the interrelation, also they allow flexibility, context-sensitivity and new possibility of interaction. The epistemological dimension examines into how scientists acquire knowledge about the living world through these concepts of parts and wholes, highlighting their role in the organisation, classifications, explanations and communication of the living world and its diverse entities. By addressing these ontological and epistemological dimensions, this dissertation contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the biological sciences’ relationship between parts and wholes. The findings offer valuable insights into how our perception of the living world is shaped and how scientific knowledge is acquired within this framework.

Date of Award	1 Oct 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bristol
Sponsors	Chilean National Agency for Research and Development (ANID)
Supervisor	Tuomas Tahko (Supervisor) & Samir Okasha (Supervisor)