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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Perspectives on Neuroscience
Published on: July 31, 2007
Philosophy of biology: naturalistic or transcendental?
Filip Kolen1, Gertrudis Van de Vijver
1Department of Philosophy and Moral Science, Centre for Critical Philosophy, Ghent University, Blandijnberg 2, Ghent, 9000, Belgium. filip.kolen@ugent.be
Abstract:
The aim of this article is to clarify the meaning of a naturalistic position within philosophy of biology, against the background of an alternative view, founded on the basic insights of transcendental philosophy. It is argued that the apparently minimal and neutral constraints naturalism imposes on philosophy of science turn out to involve a quite heavily constraining metaphysics, due to the naturalism's fundamental neglect of its own perspective. Because of its intrinsic sensitivity to perspectivity and historicity, transcendental philosophy can avoid this type of hidden metaphysics.
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