Original scientific paper

Autonomy of the Science of Living Things

Tonći Kokić orcid.org/0000-0002-6918-0666 ; University of Split, Faculty of Philosophy, Split, Croatia

Abstract

Ambiguities of attitudes on the position of biology within or outside of science domain can be divided into few basic approaches. The first approach places biology outside the scientific domain due to its lack of universality, the lack of strong generalizations and the lack of strong quantitative structure. The second approach claims that science of biology should be reduced to physics. The third approach accepts significant differences between biology on one side, and physics and chemistry on the other side, but it still claims that biology is a hard science, autonomous and with its own terminology and methodology. Comparison of principles of natural science with features of biology demonstrates a lack of determinism, inappropriateness of essentialism and pitfalls of reductionist approach in biological sphere. On the other hand, biology has some specific features. Biology is a science that has autonomy in determining its domain and choice of appropriate terminology and inquiry methods. Its domain, terminology, logic and methodology are not entirely in accordance with other sciences, but also are not completely diverse.

Keywords

biology; philosophy of biology; physicalism; generalizations; unity of science; models; provincialism; autonomy; laws; science

Hrčak ID:

62962

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/62962

Publication date:

21.7.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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