Model Organisms

This Element presents a philosophical exploration of the concept of the 'model organism' in contemporary biology.

List of contents

1. Model Organisms; 2. What Do Model Organisms Represent?; 3. How Do Model Organisms Represent?; 4. For Whom Do Model Organisms Represent?; 5. The Model Organism Repertoire; 6. When are Model Organisms 'Good' Representations?; 7. Conclusions: What Future For Model Organisms?.

Summary

This Element presents a philosophical exploration of the concept of the 'model organism' in contemporary biology. Thinking about model organisms enables us to examine how living organisms have been brought into the laboratory and used to gain a better understanding of biology, and to explore the research practices, commitments, and norms underlying this understanding. We contend that model organisms are key components of a distinctive way of doing research. We focus on what makes model organisms an important type of model, and how the use of these models has shaped biological knowledge, including how model organisms represent, how they are used as tools for intervention, and how the representational commitments linked to their use as models affect the research practices associated with them.

Product details

• Authors: Rachel Ankeny, Rachel (University of Adelaide) Leonelli Ankeny, Rachel A Ankeny, Rachel A. Ankeny, Ankeny Rachel A., Sabina Leonelli, Leonelli Sabina
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.11.2020
• EAN: 9781108742320
• ISBN: 978-1-108-74232-0
• No. of pages: 100
• Series: Elements in the Philosophy of; Elements in the Philosophy of Biology
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Philosophy > General, dictionaries; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Natural sciences (general); SCIENCE / Philosophy & Social Aspects, Philosophy of Science, Popular philosophy, Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology, Biology, life sciences, Philosophy: metaphysics and ontology