First principles in the life sciences: the free-energy principle, organicism, and mechanism.

The free-energy principle states that all systems that minimize their free energy resist a tendency to physical disintegration. Originally proposed to account for perception, learning, and action, the free-energy principle has been applied to the evolution, development, morphology, anatomy and funct...

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Published in:Synthese Vol. 198; pp. 3463 - 3489
Main Authors: Colombo, Matteo, Wright, Cory
Format: Article
Published: Springer Nature Jun2021 Supplement 14
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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          Colombo, Matteo
          Wright, Cory
        affil:
          Tilburg Center for Logic, Ethics, and Philosophy of Science, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands
          Department of Philosophy (MHB–917), California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, 90840-2408, Long Beach, CA, USA
      su:
        Life sciences
        Brain anatomy
        Natural law
        Active learning
      sug:
        subj:
          Life sciences
          Brain anatomy
          Natural law
          Active learning
      keyword:
        Adaptation
        Free energy
        Life
        Mechanism
        Organicism
      ab: The free-energy principle states that all systems that minimize their free energy resist a tendency to physical disintegration. Originally proposed to account for perception, learning, and action, the free-energy principle has been applied to the evolution, development, morphology, anatomy and function of the brain, and has been called a postulate, an unfalsifiable principle, a natural law, and an imperative. While it might afford a theoretical foundation for understanding the relationship between environment, life, and mind, its epistemic status is unclear. Also unclear is how the free-energy principle relates to prominent theoretical approaches to life science phenomena, such as organicism and mechanism. This paper clarifies both issues, and identifies limits and prospects for the free-energy principle as a first principle in the life sciences.
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    language: English
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