Why (a Form of) Function Indeterminacy is Still a Problem for Biomedicine, and How Seeing Functional Items as Components of Mechanisms Can Solve it
Year: 2014
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: During the 1990s, many philosophers wrestled with the problem of function indeterminacy. Although interest in the problem has waned, I argue that solving the problem is of value for biomedical research and practice. This is because a solution to the problem is required in order to specify rigorously the conditions under which a given item is “dysfunctional.” In the following I revisit a solution developed originally by Neander (1995), which uses functional analysis to solve the problem. I situate her solution in the framework of mechanistic explanation and suggest two improvements.
Author: Justin Garson
Language: English
Subfield: History and Philosophy of Science
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: Glenn Foundation for Medical Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Area Diabetes Endocrinology Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard, National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Awards: Boston Area Diabetes Endocrinology Research Center, G1597684046, Genetic mechanisms of metformin's pro-longevity and anti-cancer effects, Regulation of autophagy and mitochondrial permeability by target of rapamycin complex 2, Epigenetic regulation of metabolism by target of rapamycin complex 2, Obesity and diabetes genetics in Caenorhabditis elegans., Boston Area Nutrition Obesity Research Center (NORC)
OpenAlex ID: W34610303