How not to explain the errors of the immune system

Philosophy of Science 60 (2):223-241 (1993)
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Abstract

According to Mohan Matthen and Edwin Levy, certain immunological processes require explanations in which the immune system is attributed intentional states. This, they think, strengthens the scientific credentials of intentional psychology and undermines the position of those who argue that the scientific treatment of human action should involve the elimination of intentional description. In this paper, I argue that immunology does not and need not employ intentional explanation or description and consequently has nothing to offer those who seek to defend the scientific standing of intentional psychology by looking for other disciplines that "accommodate the intentional".

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Peter Melander
Umeå University

Citations of this work

Philosophy of immunology.Bartlomiej Swiatczak & Alfred I. Tauber - 2020 - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy 2020.

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References found in this work

On Denoting.Bertrand Russell - 1905 - Mind 14 (56):479-493.
Philosophy of Natural Science.Carl G. Hempel - 1967 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 18 (1):70-72.
Biological functions and perceptual content.Mohan Matthen - 1988 - Journal of Philosophy 85 (January):5-27.
Teleology, Error, and the Human Immune System.Mohan Matthen & Edwin Levy - 1984 - Journal of Philosophy 81 (7):351.

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