Episode 109: Genes, Emergence, and Platonism (round table with Sadia and Ivan)
The Theory of Anything
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Causation and Complexity in Evolution
This chapter investigates the dynamic interplay between bottom-up and top-down causation in evolutionary biology, emphasizing the philosophical implications of fundamental physics on decision-making in living organisms. Through a discussion of quantum mechanics, it challenges traditional views on determinism and agency, while exploring various interpretations of quantum theory and their effects on scientific understanding. The dialogue further examines the relationship between emergent and fundamental explanations, questioning the hierarchical status of scientific disciplines and how they interact with one another.
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