The Edges and Boundaries of Biological Objects

这个研讨会的中心思想是，划定生物对象不能仅仅由经验事实来决定；哪些事实是突出的取决于理论和概念背景。将哲学家和生物学家聚集在一起研究这些概念问题，讨论将集中在从广泛的生物层次中抽取的特定案例上。知识价值。通过强调在生物学和哲学的不同领域中常见的概念问题，将鼓励研究人员将一个领域中常见的方法和概念框架应用于其他领域的类似问题。在使用实际案例研究来实现这一目标时，将产生一种新的哲学和概念工作的混合方法。除了越来越多的演讲者涵盖了生物学和生物学哲学的广泛研究领域外，研讨会还与主要联合组织者的研究兴趣相吻合。奥登堡和哈伯的研究兴趣都涉及生物对象的本体论地位问题。奥登堡的研究涉及生态学的概念问题，他目前关注的是划定生态系统和其他生态类型。哈伯正在研究分类学的问题，包括区分分类学参考中的歧义和不确定性，以及它们如何影响分类学的稳定性。犹他大学为这个项目提供了强有力的机构支持，一批热情的演讲者已经非正式地承诺参加。更广泛的影响本次研讨会是围绕多种实际的生物学案例组织的。每个案例将收到至少一位哲学家和一位生物学家的评论。除了建立新的伙伴关系和加强来自不同学科的志同道合的研究人员之间的现有网络之外，研讨会还将通过出版案例研究、评论和随后的讨论来扩大其影响。这些论文集将作为期刊的特刊出版，并附有可供消费的网络材料（例如，案例评论后的讨论播客）。提出实际案例来说明哲学上的突出问题，将有助于向更多的通才哲学家展示生物学素养的价值，以及哲学分析对生物学家的价值。现代物理学被证明为哲学家们提供了丰富的原始材料，他们反过来帮助（并继续帮助）发展对现代物理学重要性和后果的理解。尽管生物学提供了丰富的哲学材料，但它的进步并没有得到一般哲学界的充分赞赏——我们希望通过这次研讨会来纠正这种情况。本次研讨会将确定生物哲学中新兴和欠发达的研究领域，并通过将仍在规划其研究兴趣的初级研究人员聚集在一起，促进这些领域的研究。在这些研究人员之间发展跨学科网络是本次研讨会的预期成果之一，这将对下一代生物学哲学家所追求的研究产生影响。

This workshop centers around the idea that delimiting biological objects cannot be determined by empirical facts alone; which facts are salient depend on theoretical and conceptual context. Bringing together philosophers and biologists working on these conceptual issues, discussion will focus on particular cases drawn from a wide range of the biological hierarchy.Intellectual Merit. By highlighting conceptual problems that are common across different fields of biology and philosophy, researchers will be encouraged to apply approaches and conceptual frameworks common in one field to analogous problems in other fields. In using actual case studies to achieve this goal, a new hybrid approach to philosophical and conceptual work in philosophy will be generated. In addition to the growing list of speakers covering a wide range of research areas in both biology and philosophy of biology, the workshop dovetails with the research interests of the primary co-organizers. Both Odenbaugh and Haber's research interests involve issues concerning the ontological status of biological objects. Odenbaugh's research involves conceptual issues in ecology, and he is currently concerned with delimiting ecosystems and other ecological kinds. Haber is working on issues in systematics, including drawing a distinction between ambiguity and uncertainty in taxonomic reference, and how either may affect taxonomic stability. The University of Utah has offered strong institutional support for this project, and an enthusiastic set of speakers have already informally committed to participate.BROADER IMPACTS This workshop is organized around a diversity of actual biological cases. Each case will receive comments from at least one philosopher and one biologist. In addition to creating new partnerships and enhancing existing networks between like-minded researchers from a range of disciplines, the workshop will extend its impact through publication of the case studies, commentaries, and ensuing discussions. These proceedings will be published as a special issue of a journal, with accompanying web material available for consumption (e.g., podcasts of discussion following commentaries on cases). Presenting actual cases that illustrate philosophically salient problems will help display the value of biological literacy to more generalist philosophers, as well as the value of philosophical analysis to biologists. Modern physics proved to contain rich source material for philosophers generally, who in turn have helped (and continue to help) develop an understanding of the importance and consequence of modern physics. Advances in biology have not been as well appreciated by the general philosophical community, despite the rich philosophical material it presents - a situation we hope to remedy with this workshop. This workshop will identify emerging and underdeveloped fields of research in philosophy of biology, and spur research in these fields by bringing together junior researchers that are still mapping out their research interests. Developing interdisciplinary networks across disciplines between these researchers is one of the expected outcomes of this workshop, which will have an impact on the kind of research pursued by the next generation of philosophers of biology.