Philosophy of Immunology

Philosophy of Immunology

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.

1. Introduction: the Centrality of Immunity in Biology and Medicine; 2. Immunity: a Matter of Defence?; 3. The Unity of the Individual: Self-nonself, Autoimmunity, Tolerance, and Symbiosis; 4. Cancer as a De-unification of the Individual; 5. Neuroimmunology: the Intimate Dialogue between the Nervous System and the Immune System.

Considers the ways in which immunology can address some of the most important philosophical issues. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.