Biology Quote by Elliott Sober
“The upshot is that most philosophers of biology now hold that biological properties supervene on physical properties (where supervenience is taken to include some kind of "in virtue of" relation), and that fitness and other biological properties are not identical with physical properties.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Philosophy of Biology, 2nd ed., 2008
Biological traits depend on physical ones, but are not identical; they emerge from physical bases.
In simple terms: Biology rests on physics but isn’t the same.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the layered nature of scientific explanations.
Themes
science
ontology
emergence
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
academic
When to use this quote
- research design
- education
- interdisciplinary studies
Key Concepts
supervenience
reductionism
causation
Questions to Reflect On
- Can we fully explain life with physics alone?
- Where does biology retain autonomy?
A Different Perspective
Physical explanations may not capture the full biological complexity.
