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The metaphysical lessons of synthetic biology and neuroscience.
- Source :
-
Comptes rendus biologies [C R Biol] 2015 Aug-Sep; Vol. 338 (8-9), pp. 617-26. Date of Electronic Publication: 2015 Jul 04. - Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- In this paper, I examine some important metaphysical lessons that are often presented as derived from two new scientific disciplines: synthetic biology and neuroscience. I analyse four of them: the nature of life, the existence of a soul (the mind-body problem), personhood, and free will. Many caveats are in order, and each 'advance' or each case should be assessed for itself. I conclude that a main lesson can nevertheless be learned: in conjunction with modern science, neuroscience and synthetic biology allow us to enrich old metaphysical debates, to deepen and even renew them. In particular, it becomes less and less plausible to consider life, mind, person, and agency as non-natural or non-physical entities.<br /> (Copyright © 2015 Académie des sciences. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1768-3238
- Volume :
- 338
- Issue :
- 8-9
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Comptes rendus biologies
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 26152897
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crvi.2015.06.002