Scale Dependency and Downward Causation in Biology

TY - JOUR

T1 - Scale Dependency and Downward Causation in Biology

AU - Green, Sara

PY - 2018/12/1

Y1 - 2018/12/1

N2 - This article argues that scale dependence of physical and biological processes offers resistance to reductionism and has implications that support a specific kind of downward causation. I demonstrate how insights from multiscale modeling can provide a concrete mathematical interpretation of downward causation as boundary conditions for models used to represent processes at lower scales. The autonomy and role of macroscale parameters and higher-level constraints are illustrated through examples of multiscale modeling in physics, developmental biology, and systems biology. Drawing on these examples, I defend the explanatory importance of constraining relations for understanding the behavior of biological systems.

AB - This article argues that scale dependence of physical and biological processes offers resistance to reductionism and has implications that support a specific kind of downward causation. I demonstrate how insights from multiscale modeling can provide a concrete mathematical interpretation of downward causation as boundary conditions for models used to represent processes at lower scales. The autonomy and role of macroscale parameters and higher-level constraints are illustrated through examples of multiscale modeling in physics, developmental biology, and systems biology. Drawing on these examples, I defend the explanatory importance of constraining relations for understanding the behavior of biological systems.

U2 - 10.1086/699758

DO - 10.1086/699758

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0031-8248

VL - 85

SP - 998

EP - 1011

JO - Philosophy of Science

JF - Philosophy of Science

IS - 5

ER -