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Theoretical principles for biology: Organization
Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology
In the search of a theory of biological organisms, we propose to adopt organization as a theoretical principle and define it as closure of constraints.
Abstract
Abstract In the search of a theory of biological organisms, we propose to adopt organization as a theoretical principle. Organization constitutes an overarching hypothesis that frames the intelligibility of biological objects, by characterizing their relevant aspects. After a succinct historical survey on the understanding of organization in the organicist tradition, we offer a specific characterization in terms of closure of constraints. We then discuss some implications of the adoption of organization as a principle and, in particular, we focus on how it fosters an original approach to biological stability, as well as and its interplay with variation.
Keywords: Theoretical principle, Organization, Constraints, Closure, Stability, Organicism