Overthink Organisms
Jul 2, 2024
Explore the philosophical concepts of organisms in biology, from Kant's distinction between mechanisms and organisms to Deleuze and Guattari's 'bodies without organs.' Discover the unique dynamics of symbiotic relationships between species, Kant's view on self-generating organisms, and the political implications of organisms as inspired by Lukacs. Delve into Deleuze and Guattari's collaboration on de-territorialization and the differences between superorganisms and traditional organisms, challenging traditional biological boundaries.
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Naples Symbiosis
- Snails and jellyfish in the Bay of Naples have a symbiotic, parasitic relationship, blurring individual boundaries.
- Each becomes a stage in the other's reproductive cycle, questioning the concept of self.
Kant's Organisms vs. Mechanisms
- Kant's organism concept is self-generating and internally organized, unlike mechanisms.
- Organisms' parts are mutually cause and effect, making them irreducible to mechanistic laws.
Biological Exceptionalism
- Kant believed biology is irreducible to physics; there will be no "Newton of a blade of grass."
- Romantics, like Schelling, extended this by viewing both nature and mind as having organic structure.