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An engineering paradigm in the biomedical sciences: Knowledge as epistemic tool.

Mieke Boon1

  • 1Department of Philosophy, University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.

Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology
|April 9, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Biomedical sciences are shifting towards an engineering paradigm, distinct from the traditional physics paradigm. This new approach prioritizes practical problem-solving and useful knowledge generation in fields like systems biology.

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Area of Science:

  • Philosophy of Science
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Engineering Sciences

Background:

  • Current biomedical sciences increasingly integrate engineering concepts to address complex biological systems.
  • This integration is interpreted by philosophers of science as the emergence of a new engineering paradigm, particularly in systems biology and synthetic biology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To articulate the characteristics of the emerging engineering paradigm in biomedical sciences.
  • To contrast this engineering paradigm with the historical physics paradigm that underpinned biochemistry and molecular biology.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing Thomas Kuhn's concept of a disciplinary matrix to define paradigm components.
  • Analyzing the metaphysical, ontological, and epistemic aims of both paradigms.
Keywords:
Disciplinary matrixEngineering sciencesEpistêmê and technêKuhnModel constructionParadigmPhilosophy of scienceSynthetic biologySystems biology

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Main Results:

  • The physics paradigm is characterized by its metaphysical and ontological assumptions.
  • The engineering paradigm is defined by its epistemic goal of generating useful knowledge for external problem-solving.

Conclusions:

  • The physics and engineering paradigms involve fundamentally different conceptions of knowledge.
  • The engineering paradigm emphasizes 'knowledge as an epistemic tool' for practical application, contrasting with the representational knowledge of the physics paradigm.