Description
The Organism offers a sophisticated philosophical investigation into one of biology’s most fundamental concepts. Jan Baedke examines how organisms have been defined throughout the history of biology and explores what it means to be an organism in contemporary science.
This work synthesizes classical organismal thinking with modern developmental, evolutionary, and systems biology perspectives. Baedke argues that understanding organisms requires moving beyond reductionist approaches to appreciate their integrated complexity and hierarchical organization. The book addresses key questions about biological individuality, emergence, and the boundaries between organisms and their environments.
Part of Cambridge University Press’s Elements in the Philosophy of Biology series, this volume serves as both an introduction for students and a contribution to ongoing philosophical debates about biological ontology. It provides essential reading for philosophers of biology, biologists interested in foundational concepts, and anyone seeking to understand how we conceptualize life itself.
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