Organism and the Origins of Self (Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science)

"De la vaporisation et de la centralisation du Moi. Tout est la. " Charles Baudelaire (journal entry) This anthology is my visit to Oz. On sabbatical in 1988, I chose to reeducate myself in general biology, first broadening my erudition as an immunologist, and then extending that horizon into evolutionary biology and embryology. I was particularly attracted to reflections on the nature of the self as an organ­ ismic concept. I went in search of reorientation as a confused physician­ scientist, and came back with this book. Baum's Wizard of Oz presented opportunities for growth, and herein lies the purpose of this volume: in providing updated statements concerning the nature of the organism from both scientific and metaphysical perspectives, we might ponder the philo­ sophical basis of our research in the hope of gaining insight into our endeavor, not to mention the possibility of its enrichment; it is this contem­ plative view of our research which offers a unique dimension to this anthology. To that end, the project follows my idiosyncratic prejudices. The anthology derives in large measure from the symposium, "Organism and the Origin of Self' held at Boston University, April 3-4, 1990, under the auspices of the Boston University Center for the Philosophy and History of Science, with generous support of Robert Cohen and Jon Westling, and the organizational skills of Deborah Wilkes. The Symposium presented three ver­ sions of the Self from the vantages of embryology, evolution and medicine. "De la vaporisation et de la centralisation du Moi. Tout est la." Charles Baudelaire (journal entry) This anthology is my visit to Oz. On sabbatical in 1988, I chose to reeducate myself in general biology, first broadening my erudition as an immunologist, and then extending that horizon into evolutionary biology and embryology. I was particularly attracted to reflections on the nature of the self as an organƯ ismic concept. I went in search of reorientation as a confused physicianƯ scientist, and came back with this book. Baum's Wizard of Oz presented opportunities for growth, and herein lies the purpose of this volume: in providing updated statements concerning the nature of the organism from both scientific and metaphysical perspectives, we might ponder the philoƯ sophical basis of our research in the hope of gaining insight into our endeavor, not to mention the possibility of its enrichment; it is this contemƯ plative view of our research which offers a unique dimension to this anthology. To that end, the project follows my idiosyncratic prejudices. The anthology derives in large measure from the symposium, "Organism and the Origin of Self' held at Boston University, April 3-4, 1990, under the auspices of the Boston University Center for the Philosophy and History of Science, with generous support of Robert Cohen and Jon Westling, and the organizational skills of Deborah Wilkes. The Symposium presented three verƯ sions of the Self from the vantages of embryology, evolution and medicine Front Matter....Pages i-xix Introduction: Speculations Concerning the Origins of the Self....Pages 1-39 Editor’s Comments to Löwy....Pages 41-41 The Immunological Construction of the Self....Pages 43-75 Editor’s Comments to Varela, Chernyak and Tauber....Pages 77-78 Organism: A Meshwork of Selfless Selves....Pages 79-107 The Dialectical Self: Immunology’s Contribution....Pages 109-156 Editor’s Comments to Root-Bernstein....Pages 157-158 Self, Nonself and the Paradoxes of Autoimmunity....Pages 159-209 Editor’s Comments to Foster and Sarkar....Pages 211-212 Directed Mutation in Escherichia Coli : Theory and Mechanisms....Pages 213-234 Lamarck Contre Darwin, Reduction Versus Statistics: Conceptual Issues in the Controversy over Directed Mutagenesis in Bacteria....Pages 235-271 Editorial Comments to Sober by Sarkar....Pages 273-274 Organisms, Individuals, and Units of Selection....Pages 275-296 Editor’s Comments to Williamson....Pages 297-298 Sequential Chimeras....Pages 299-336 Editor’s Comments to Gilbert....Pages 337-340 The Role of Embryonic Induction in Creating Self....Pages 341-360 Epilogue: The Uncut Self....Pages 361-374 Back Matter....Pages 375-384 Edited By Alfred I. Tauber. Proceedings From A Symposium Held At Boston University, Apr. 3-4, 1990, Under The Auspices Of The Boston University Center For Philosophy And History Of Science. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.