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Self, intentionality, and immunological explanation.

M Howes1

  • 1Department of Philosophy, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA.

Seminars in Immunology
|July 27, 2000
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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This study argues for retaining self-concepts in immunology, finding immunological language is not anthropomorphic or teleological. It proposes that self-terminology is appropriate, supporting innate and somatic mechanisms for self-nonself discrimination.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Philosophy of Biology

Background:

  • The use of "self" in immunology is debated.
  • Concerns exist regarding anthropomorphism and teleology in biological explanations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide conceptual reasons for preserving self-concepts in immunology.
  • To analyze the appropriateness of immunological self-terminology.
  • To propose a conceptual structure for self-nonself discrimination.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of immunological language.
  • Examination of teleology in biological contexts.
  • Analogy drawn from the human self.

Main Results:

  • Immunological self-terminology is neither genuinely anthropomorphic nor perniciously teleological.

Related Experiment Videos

  • A specific type of teleology (intentionality-as-aboutness) is necessary for functional explanation in immunology.
  • Self-terminology is appropriate, analogous to the human self's innate and representational functions.

    • Conclusions:

    • Self-concepts are conceptually valuable in immunology.
    • A robust conceptual structure for self-nonself discrimination should integrate both innate and somatic mechanisms.