Chapter 10. The dialectical legacy of epigenetics
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Flavio D’abramo
Abstract
In this article I recognise three major historical phases of epigenetics, the first initiated by Child, Needham and Waddington during the first half of last century, focused on a dialectical analysis of biological processes between the organisms and their environments. The second phase started with the Bellagio conferences organised by Waddington where general principles derived from quantum physics were used to establishing a global order underpinned by scientific, objective facts beyond ethical and moral judgments. In the third phase, started with the failure of the Human Genome Project, there isn’t any consensus on the operative and philosophical notion of nature – i.e. the environmental context. Then, I highlight the necessity to reunify knowledge and moral within epigenetics.
Abstract
In this article I recognise three major historical phases of epigenetics, the first initiated by Child, Needham and Waddington during the first half of last century, focused on a dialectical analysis of biological processes between the organisms and their environments. The second phase started with the Bellagio conferences organised by Waddington where general principles derived from quantum physics were used to establishing a global order underpinned by scientific, objective facts beyond ethical and moral judgments. In the third phase, started with the failure of the Human Genome Project, there isn’t any consensus on the operative and philosophical notion of nature – i.e. the environmental context. Then, I highlight the necessity to reunify knowledge and moral within epigenetics.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- About the contributors vii
- Foreword 1
- Introduction 7
- Chapter 1. The dam project: Who are the experts? 17
- Chapter 2. Rational decisions in a disagreement with experts 35
- Chapter 3. Rethinking the notion of public 53
- Chapter 4. The expert you are (not) 71
- Chapter 5. Decisions without scientists? 87
- Chapter 6. Save the planet, win the election 109
- Chapter 7. Science and the source of legitimacy in democratic regimes 127
- Chapter 8. The ethics of communication and the Terra Terra project 145
- Chapter 9. The political use of science 165
- Chapter 10. The dialectical legacy of epigenetics 185
- Index 197
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- About the contributors vii
- Foreword 1
- Introduction 7
- Chapter 1. The dam project: Who are the experts? 17
- Chapter 2. Rational decisions in a disagreement with experts 35
- Chapter 3. Rethinking the notion of public 53
- Chapter 4. The expert you are (not) 71
- Chapter 5. Decisions without scientists? 87
- Chapter 6. Save the planet, win the election 109
- Chapter 7. Science and the source of legitimacy in democratic regimes 127
- Chapter 8. The ethics of communication and the Terra Terra project 145
- Chapter 9. The political use of science 165
- Chapter 10. The dialectical legacy of epigenetics 185
- Index 197
