How to be open-minded while staying rigorous | Bernd Rosslenbroich & Dan Brooks | CBF Dialogues 003

How do we develop new concepts in biology and stay rigorous and scientific? While some have advocated for terms such as “agency”, others have criticized them for being non-scientific. Bernd and Dan speak with Alan about their views on how to responsibly and rigorously venture into new conceptual territory. They discuss whether concepts/terms such as “agency” and “holism” could be necessary to capture aspects of living systems not present in machines, physics, chemistry or genetics. Take a listen if you want to hear two high level thinkers share thoughts and engage in dialogue that could strongly complement what is discussed in laboratory settings and university/high school classes. Discussants: Bernd Rosslenbroich (Author of Properties of Life) & Dan Brooks (A philosopher of science focused on how conceptual rigor can refresh biological research) 0:00 – Overall theme for dialogue: How do we develop new concepts rigorously? 2:46 – Bernd: The need to take phenomena seriously 6:10 – Dan: Staying open to “ambiguity” while developing new concepts 9:16 – What is “agency” and is it useful? 13:30 – Agency as “self-activity” or eigen-activity 24:41 – Avoiding the trap of creationism 27:20 – Phenomenology/empirical observation guides what new concepts are needed 34:44 – Many observations/phenomena today lack sufficient concepts to make sense of them 35:53 – The danger of approaching phenomena with ossified concepts from the past 39:21 – Students need to be given the chance to slow down to really think 43:51 – Three essentials for good research: patience, discipline, intellectual curiosity 46:31 – Reflecting about one’s own thinking and forms of explanation 53:33 – Is “holism” as a concept useful or an obstacle? 57:45 – Why Bernd prefers the term “integrated system”; Paul Weiss as a pioneer of systems thinking 1:04:24 – Barriers between philosophy and science 1:08:05 – Bernd asks Alan – why has Paul Weiss been forgotten? 1:18:55 – Should scientists today know more about Goethe? 1:26:36 – Goethe as an antidote to the cult of STEM 1:29:00 – Final advice from Bernd and Dan: Think about thinking; keep a diary of scientific poetry #lifesciences #21stCenturyBiology #scientificcreativity #lifesciencestudents #lifescience_concepts #conceptualbiology #Research #learningbiology #biotechnology #philosophyofscience #historyofscience #lifeofascientist