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Freedom and purpose in biology.

Publication ,  Journal Article
McShea, DW
Published in: Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences
August 2016

All seemingly teleological systems share a common hierarchical structure. They consist of a small entity moving or changing within a larger field that directs it from above (what I call "upper direction"). This is true for organisms seeking some external resource, for the organized behavior of cells and other parts in organismal development, and for lineages evolving by natural selection. In all cases, the lower-level entity is partly "free," tending to wander under the influence of purely local forces, and partly directed by a larger enveloping field. The persistent and plastic behavior that characterizes goal-directedness arises, I argue, at intermediate levels of freedom and upper direction, when the two are in a delicate balance. I tentatively extend the argument to human teleology (wants, purposes).

Duke Scholars

Published In

Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences

DOI

EISSN

1879-2499

ISSN

1369-8486

Publication Date

August 2016

Volume

58

Start / End Page

64 / 72

Related Subject Headings

  • Science Studies
  • Philosophy
  • Humans
  • Freedom
  • Ethical Theory
  • Biology
  • Biological Evolution
  • Behavior
  • Animals
  • 5003 Philosophy
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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McShea, D. W. (2016). Freedom and purpose in biology. Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, 58, 64–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsc.2015.12.002
McShea, Daniel W. “Freedom and purpose in biology.Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences 58 (August 2016): 64–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsc.2015.12.002.
McShea DW. Freedom and purpose in biology. Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences. 2016 Aug;58:64–72.
McShea, Daniel W. “Freedom and purpose in biology.Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, vol. 58, Aug. 2016, pp. 64–72. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.shpsc.2015.12.002.
McShea DW. Freedom and purpose in biology. Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences. 2016 Aug;58:64–72.
Journal cover image

Published In

Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences

DOI

EISSN

1879-2499

ISSN

1369-8486

Publication Date

August 2016

Volume

58

Start / End Page

64 / 72

Related Subject Headings

  • Science Studies
  • Philosophy
  • Humans
  • Freedom
  • Ethical Theory
  • Biology
  • Biological Evolution
  • Behavior
  • Animals
  • 5003 Philosophy