Brain Inspired

BI 150 Dan Nicholson: Machines, Organisms, Processes

Oct 15, 2022
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INSIGHT

Philosophy As Interdisciplinary Tool

  • Philosophy is a toolset applied across disciplines and emerges when you think carefully about a field.
  • Daniel Nicholson argues philosophers of science should engage directly with scientists to clarify concepts and influence practice.
ANECDOTE

Meeting James Watson At Cold Spring Harbor

  • Daniel gave a talk at Cold Spring Harbor and found James Watson unexpectedly in the audience.
  • Watson attended, dozed, and reacted strongly to Nicholson's critique of molecular biology's assumptions.
INSIGHT

Models Can Mislead When Taken Literally

  • Machine metaphors for organisms are useful approximations but can mislead when treated as literal.
  • Nicholson emphasizes distinguishing usefulness from truth when applying engineering analogies to biology.
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