Philosophy of Immunology

In this Element, Thomas Pradeu considers the ways in which current immunology sheds light on some of the most important contemporary philosophical issues, from the persistence of identity through time to the interaction of mind and body. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

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Immunology is central to contemporary biology and medicine, but it also provides novel philosophical insights. Its most significant contribution to philosophy concerns the understanding of biological individuality: what a biological individual is, what makes it unique, how its boundaries are established and what ensures its identity through time. Immunology also offers answers to some of the most interesting philosophical questions. What is the definition of life? How are bodily systems delineated? How do the mind and the body interact? In this Element, Thomas Pradeu considers the ways in which immunology can shed light on these and other important philosophical issues. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.