New Books in Science Giuseppe Longo and Adam Nocek, "The Organism Is a Theory: Giuseppe Longo on Biology, Mathematics, and AI" (U Minnesota Press, 2026)
Jan 20, 2026
Giuseppe Longo, a renowned mathematician and theoretical biologist, joins philosopher Adam Nocek to discuss their provocative book. They challenge computational reductionism, asserting that living systems can't be fully understood through algorithms. Longo explains how randomness drives development and the importance of historical context in biological evolution. They also critique the myth of DNA as a predictable program and explore the intricate relationship between mathematics and biology, emphasizing a new paradigm for understanding life's complexities.
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Life Is Not A Generic Computation
- Living systems are not generic computable machines and require historically specific relations to develop.
- Neural nets approximate but do not capture organismic non-computability, so assuming target functions for life is metaphysically mistaken.
Negative Results Built Computability
- Computability arose as a productive negative result revealing non-computable functions and limits of formal axiomatic systems.
- These limitative results structured entire mathematical and computational fields crucial for understanding what cannot be algorithmically captured.
Ontogenesis As Historical Individuation
- Ontogenesis for Longo means historical, environmental individuation, not a pre-given developmental program.
- Randomness is intrinsic to individuation; organisms form through context-sensitive, stochastic processes.
