No Genetics without Epigenetics? No Biology without Systems Biology? On the Meaning of a Relational Viewpoint in a Complex Account of Living Systems

摘要

In this article, we propose to reflect on the meaning of complexity in relation to currentbiology, and in particular, in relation to current systems biological developments byconsidering them as confronting biology with the idea of a complex part—whole deter-mination of living systems, that is contextual as well as stratified. We attempt to traceas clearly as possible the abstract core of the idea of parts and wholes that is at stakein this contextual determination. In doing so, we have found inspiration in Kant's viewon living systems. We argue that Kant's transcendental viewpoint can be relevantly ac-tualized and extrapolated as a relational account of living systems, and will explore itsramifications starting from a multilevel view of living systems.