Biological macromolecules, considered as the items of the biochemical domain, are typically conceived under the ontological category of substantial individuals. In this paper, I will argue that the philosophical framework of process ontology, according to which the living world is not populated by individuals but by a dynamic hierarchy of processes, is more adequate to account for the structure and functioning of macromolecules. In particular, I will analyze its application to the phenomenon of cell signaling and to one of its (...) key concepts, cell receptors. Current knowledge in biochemistry allows us to conceive receptors as processual and dynamic entities, relationally stabilized and not separated from the biochemical phenomenon of which they are part. (shrink)

According to process ontology in the philosophy of biology, the living world is better understood as processes rather than as substantial individuals. Within this perspective, an organism does not consist of a hierarchy of structures like a machine, but rather a dynamic hierarchy of processes, dynamically maintained and stabilized at different time scales. With this respect, two processual approaches on enzymes by Stein (Hyle Int J Philos Chem 10(4):5–22, 2004, Process Stud 34:62–80, 2005, Found Chem 8:3–29, 2006) and by Guttinger (...) (Everything Flows: Towards a Processual Philosophy of Biology, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2018) allows to think of macromolecules as relational and processual entities. In this work, I propose to extend their arguments to another case study within the biochemical domain, which is the case of ligand receptors and receptor-mediated biosignaling. The aim of this work is to analyze the case of G Protein-Coupled Receptors and biosignaling under the consideration of a processual ontology. I will defend that the processual ontology framework is adequate for the biochemical domain and that it allows accounting for the current biochemical knowledge related to the case study. (shrink)

According to process ontology in the philosophy of biology, the living world is better understood as processes rather than as substantial individuals. Within this perspective, an organism does not consist of a hierarchy of structures like a machine, but rather a dynamic hierarchy of processes, dynamically maintained and stabilized at different time scales. With this respect, two processual approaches on enzymes by Stein (Hyle Int J Philos Chem 10(4):5–22, 2004, Process Stud 34:62–80, 2005, Found Chem 8:3–29, 2006) and by Guttinger (...) (Everything Flows: Towards a Processual Philosophy of Biology, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2018) allows to think of macromolecules as relational and processual entities. In this work, I propose to extend their arguments to another case study within the biochemical domain, which is the case of ligand receptors and receptor-mediated biosignaling. The aim of this work is to analyze the case of G Protein-Coupled Receptors and biosignaling under the consideration of a processual ontology. I will defend that the processual ontology framework is adequate for the biochemical domain and that it allows accounting for the current biochemical knowledge related to the case study. (shrink)

RESUMEN La postulación de la existencia de receptores bioquímicos permite brindar una explicación satisfactoria para muchos procesos biológicos a nivel celular, como, por ejemplo, el mecanismo de acción de la mayoría de las drogas de acción específica. No obstante, el concepto de receptor fue considerado durante mucho tiempo como carente de referente objetivo, e incluso avanzada la segunda mitad del siglo XX aún existía escepticismo acerca de su existencia. A partir del debate filosófico entre realistas y antirrealistas científicos, indagaremos si (...) la cuestión del realismo permite arrojar luz sobre la historia del concepto de receptor bioquímico. Evaluaremos qué posiciones particulares en el marco del debate permiten comprender tanto la evolución del concepto de receptor como la práctica científica sobre los receptores. Argumentaremos que el caso de los receptores puede ser elucidado aceptando un realismo científico de entidades que considera la manipulabilidad como criterio de existencia -siguiendo a Ian Hacking-. Guiará nuestro trabajo una pregunta estrictamente filosófica: ¿existen los receptores bioquímicos? ABSTRACT The postulation of the existence of biochemical receptors provides a satisfactory explanation for many biological processes at the cellular level, such as the mechanisms of action of most drugs with specific action. However, the concept of receptor was long considered as lacking an objective referent, and even into the second half of the 20th century, there was still skepticism about its existence. By means of the philosophical debate between scientific realists and anti-realists, we will investigate whether the question of realism can shed light on the history of the concept of biochemical receptor. We will evaluate which particular positions within the debate allow us to understand both the evolution of the concept of receptor and the scientific practice on receptors. We will argue that the case of receptors can be elucidated by accepting a scientific realism of entities, which considers manipulability as a criterion of existence -following Ian Hacking-. Our work will be guided by a strictly philosophical query: Do biochemical receptors exist? (shrink)

En el presente artículo nos proponemos argumentar en favor de una concepción procesual de la identidad de la persona enferma. Para ello, recorreremos algunas de las principales respuestas que ha dado la filosofía a la pregunta por la identidad personal, así como ciertas propuestas sobre cómo concebir la enfermedad y la identidad de la persona enferma. A partir de la adopción de un enfoque procesual de la ontología, pondremos el foco en una interpretación procesual-relacional no dualista de los organismos biológicos.

In this paper we will briefly explain the context in which the appropriation of 500 children occurred during the most recent Argentinian dictatorship, in order to analyze the political demand of identity restitution of these people. We will describe the phenomenon of restitution that took place thanks to the strategy of Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, and we will analyze both the role of genetics on the restitution as well as some criticisms to a notion of biological identity considered to (...) emerge from it. We will situate those criticisms in the philosophical debate over personal identity. The main purpose of this paper is to offer two arguments against an alleged genetic notion of personal identity. Firstly, a theoretical argument presents reasons on the basis of contemporary biological knowledge and, secondly, a practical argument refers to the productive role of biotechnologies. Finally, we will discuss some problems that arise from the criticisms themselves in order to give reasons for a defense of the restitution demand. (shrink)