Seel M, Ladik J (2019)
Publication Type: Book chapter / Article in edited volumes
Publication year: 2019
Publisher: Academic Press Inc.
Edited Volumes: Advances in Quantum Chemistry
DOI: 10.1016/bs.aiq.2019.11.001
The aim of this paper is to review some basic ideas, concepts, and questions of today's theoretical biology and stimulate reflection on them. Possible sources of misunderstanding, confusion, and disagreement in the discussion of the foundation of biology are outlined. Major attention is given to different interpretations (and implications) of the term “explanation” and “living system.” It is argued that the concepts of present day's physics are not general enough to describe biology. As examples of possible new concepts “complexity” and “creativity” are discussed. Different definitions of “living systems” and their flaws are reviewed. It is concluded that an explanation of a living system involves both, an understanding of its parts and of the organization of these parts. This leads to a discussion of the role of quantum mechanics and non-equilibrium statistical thermodynamics in biology. Finally, the implications of some philosophical points of view and the role of Gödel's incompleteness theorem in a basic theory of biology are discussed.
APA:
Seel, M., & Ladik, J. (2019). The tragicomedy of modern theoretical biology. In Advances in Quantum Chemistry. Academic Press Inc..
MLA:
Seel, Maximilian, and Janos Ladik. "The tragicomedy of modern theoretical biology." Advances in Quantum Chemistry. Academic Press Inc., 2019.
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