Title of article :
Could a "philosophical fitness landscape" foster Wilsonian consilience in biosystems debates?
Author/Authors :
Emery، Richard نويسنده ,
Issue Information :
روزنامه با شماره پیاپی سال 2003
Abstract :
A digital interpretation of Edward O. Wilson’s principle of "consilience"-knowledge will grow out of interdisciplinary accommodation-is attempted by modeling it with 32 pixels on a "philosophical fitness landscape" (PFL). This approach partially answers a need expressed by Wilson to develop useful consilience methodology, including maps and other orientation devises. Responding also to his call for more imagination, a "virtual roundtable" discussion is convened among 13 scientific luminaries to debate the meaning of biological life and its origin. This is done to test (subjectively) the null hypothesis that a PFL would be insensitive to the diversity of perspectives engaged in such a debate. Rejecting the null hypothesis, an argument is made that an appropriate PFL might help to foster Wilsonian consilience in biosystems debates, where it is needed most.
Keywords :
Philosophical fitness landscape , Virtual roundtable debate , Consilience , E.O. Wilson , Origin of life , Growth of knowledge
Journal title :
BioSystems
Journal title :
BioSystems