Revisiting Causation: The Role of Goal-Directed Transitions in Biology
Name of applicant
Mads Jørgensen Hansen
Title
PhD
Institution
Bristol University
Amount
DKK 900,000
Year
2024
Type of grant
Internationalisation Fellowships
What?
Some processes exhibit clear goals while others do not. The question arises: Are ontogenetic processes, such as the transition from embryo to adult, goal-directed? Research in morphogenesis suggests bioelectric fields may serve as guiding principles in ontogenesis. This project aims to develop a theory which posits that ontogenetic processes are inherently goal-directed.
Why?
Exploring the possibility of goal-directedness in ontogenetic processes holds important philosophical implications, challenging traditional notions of causation. Moreover, if developmental processes are indeed goal-directed, this may have significant consequences for medicine by facilitating the detection and manipulation of goal-states in order to mitigate developmental defects.
How?
This project integrates philosophical analysis with the literature from developmental biology to construct a model of goal-directed transitions. Through an in-depth analysis of contemporary research in developmental biology, particularly regarding the role of bioelectric fields in morphogenesis, this project seeks to establish a conceptual framework capable of explaining such causal phenomena.