Introduction: Progressive Steps toward a Unified Conception of Individuality across the Sciences
Year: 2016
Type: preprint
Abstract: This chapter introduces the main issues and themes of the volume. Approaches to individuality from metaphysics and philosophy of science are contrasted. Recent philosophical developments about biological and physical individuality are exposed. These research trends show how philosophy of physics and philosophy of biology address differently the question of what an individual is. Five main divergences are identified: the centrality of part-whole questions, the issue of identical individuals, the importance of the principle of identity of indiscernibles and, finally, the importance of structuralist concerns. At the end of the chapter, the structure of the book is explained in details.
Authors: Alexandre Guay, Thomas Pradeu
Language: English
Subfield: History and Philosophy of Science
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1906574160