Selection is Inescapable (Part 2: Re-rethinking Biological Functions)

Fabian Hundertmark, Bielefeld UniversityJakob Roloff, Justus-Liebig-University GießenFrancesca Bellazzi, University of Oslo, ERC Project Assembling Life (no.101089326) 1. Introduction In the target post, Dong and Piccinini criticize SE and propose a new goal-contribution account of functions (GCA) (also in Maley, Piccinini 2017; Piccinini, 2020). In this second post, we argue that …

Selection is Inescapable (Part 1: Do We Need to Rethink Biological Functions?)

Fabian Hundertmark, Bielefeld UniversityJakob Roloff, Justus-Liebig-University GießenFrancesca Bellazzi, University of Oslo, ERC Project Assembling Life (no.101089326) 1. Introduction Functions are everywhere. Coffee machines have the function of making our coffee and our hearts have the function of pumping our blood. But what are functions, and how should we think of …

Rethinking Biological Functions

Mindcraft is a series of opinion posts on current issues in cognitive science by Brains Blog founder Gualtiero Piccinini. Do you agree? Disagree? Please contribute on the discussion board below! If you’d like to write a full-length response, please contact editor Dan Burnston. Rethinking Biological Functions: A Goal-Contribution Approach and Its Systemic Implications Hanzhe …

This Week — An Exchange on Biological Function!

Hi All, This week, we will have a follow-up conversation about the last Mindcraft post by Brains founder Gualtiero Piccinini and Hanzhe Dong. That post will be moved to the top of the blog today for review. Then, Wednesday and Thursday, we’ll have some excellent commentary from Fabian Hundertmark, Jakob …

Neural Mechanisms Online 2025 Webinars

We are pleased to announce our forthcoming events: a book symposium on Nick Shea’s new book on concepts, & the lineup for the 2025 webinar series Book Symposiumjoint initiative with ISPSM (https://www.ispsmind.com/):13 December 2024, 4-7 pm CETConcepts at the Interface (OUP)Nick Shea (London)Discussants:Sara Aronowitz, Chris Hill,  Eric Margolis, Gualtiero  Piccinini, Michael Strevens …

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