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A Tale of Two Individuality Accounts and Integrative Pluralism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2022

Sinan Şencan
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Abstract

This article focuses on recent discussions about holobionts and evolutionary individuality to evaluate the merits of integrative pluralism. I argue that integrative pluralism is the wrong approach to take when it comes to holobiont research because integrative pluralism is not liberal enough to accommodate both single-species and multispecies individuals. I conclude by suggesting two points. First, a pluralistic view helps us better understand holobiont research. Second, the case of holobionts helps us develop a better account of scientific pluralism.

Type
Biological Sciences
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 86 , Issue 5 , December 2019 , pp. 1111 - 1122
Copyright
Copyright © The Philosophy of Science Association

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Footnotes

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Sinan Şencan was a PhD student in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Calgary. Tragically, Sinan passed away while attending the PSA meeting in Seattle in November 2018. He never got to present his paper at PSA. Sinan entered the philosophy PhD program at the University of Calgary in 2014. Previously, he had completed a BA in philosophy from the Middle East Technical University and an MA in philosophy at Mugla Sitki Koçman University. At the time of his death, Sinan’s PhD dissertation, titled “Scientific Pluralism from a Biological Perspective,” was nearly completed. Sinan’s dissertation examines various forms of scientific pluralism using biological research on holobionts as a case study. Sinan was dedicated to his research in the philosophy of science. He is remembered for his warmth, humor, and generosity.

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