The Science of Life

This article, by Matthew Dahlitz, explores the limitations of the "machine model" in understanding biological systems, particularly through the lens of brain hemisphere differences as discussed in Iain McGilchrist’s work The Matter With Things. Dahlitz highlights the left hemisphere's dominance in science, favouring mechanistic and reductionist views, leading to the perception of organisms as machines. However, this perspective neglects living beings' dynamic, processual, and interconnected nature, which is better understood through the right hemisphere's holistic view. The article critiques the inadequacy of mechanistic metaphors in capturing the essence of life, emphasising that living organisms are not static assemblies of parts but are complex, evolving systems that cannot be fully understood through linear, mechanical thinking.

  • Understand the differences in perspective between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, particularly in how they perceive the world and explain phenomena.

  • Explore the historical and philosophical context of the "machine model" in scientific disciplines, especially biology.

  • Analyze the limitations of reductionist and mechanistic approaches in understanding living organisms.

  • Examine the dynamic, interconnected, and processual nature of biological systems, as opposed to static mechanical systems.

  • Critically evaluate the use of metaphors in scientific language and their impact on our understanding of complex systems.

  • Discuss alternative frameworks for understanding life and consciousness that go beyond the mechanistic paradigm, drawing on interdisciplinary insights from biology, neuroscience, and philosophy.

Become a Member