We are very happy to welcome our new Postdoctoral Fellow Andrea Gambarotto to the KLI! Andrea is trained in classical German philosophy and is inspired by Kant and Hegel. His research interest lies in complex systems theory, with a particular focus on the relation between teleology, agency and cognition in biological systems, and is influenced by the framework of biological autonomy. Andrea believes that bridging the classical philosophies of nature and current approaches in biological theory will help in advancing knowledge in both sides. (Click on the title to know more about Andrea!)

The 4th Meeting of the Vienna Science Studies Laboratory was held yesterday afternoon in the cozy ambience of Das Café in Vienna. The paper that was selected for this reading group’s discussion was Kelly et al. 2014 (The integration of social, behavioral, and biological mechanisms in models of pathogenesis). In a lively discussion, most participants contributed interesting points on various aspects of the paper, especially around the concepts of ‘lifeworlds’ and 'mixed mechanisms' in explaining diseases. (Click on title to read more on this report!)

What has Conspiracy Theories got to do with individual personality traits and socio-environmental factors?? Quite a lot actually, according to a new multi-author paper including Guido Caniglia, published in SN Social Sciences. (Click on title to read more…)

In her comprehensive book review, Isabella Sarto-Jackson draws attention to "Care and Cure: An Introduction to Philosophy of Medicine" by Jacob Stegenga, published in 2018. Isabella emphasizes the ongoing relevance of the book, especially in light of the heightened public interest in health and medicine following the recent global pandemic. Opening with the line, “It is the best of times and it is the worst of times to grapple with philosophy of medicine”, Isabella highlights the increasingly widening chasm that separates scientific progress in biomedical research and science skepticism and denialism: a tale of two contrasting narratives. While this book started as an introduction to the philosophy of medicine, Isabella suggests that the book serves as a fine place to catch up with contemporary discourse rather than relying on superficial internet searches. In her lucid, well-structured writing, Isabella gives a comprehensive and balanced review of this book. (click on title to read more...)

We are delighted to welcome our new Postdoctoral Fellow Anne Le Maitre to the KLI! Anne received her doctoral degree from the Université de Poitiers for her dissertation on the adaptation and phylogeny of the inner ear in extant and fossil primates. For her postdoc, she joined the department of theoretical biology at the University of Vienna in 2017 where she studied the evolutionary mechanisms (developmental canalisation, evolvability) underlying morphological variation from an empirical perspective. Here at the KLI, Anne's project... (continued)

“...from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being evolved...” (Darwin 1859) But what about the time before the ‘so simple’ beginning? Does evolutionary theory apply there? Let's ask Schoenmakers et al.!

Led by fresh KLI alumna Anna-Katharina Brenner, this paper explores the long-lasting impact of settlement arrangements in cities on sustainability, and emphasizes the importance of understanding the drivers that change settlement patterns.

Jamila HAIDER (Stockholm Resilience Centre), 2024-01-25 15:00 (CET). To join our colloquium please register with Zoom

Guido Caniglia on doing philosophy in and for sustainability science for the Society for Philosophy of science in practice (SPSP).

A new study, co-authored by Guido Caniglia, highlights optimism and complexity thinking as key factors to foster interpersonal trust during times of crises.

Project: Transdisciplinary research and its scientific impact: Insights and implications from health research and sustainability research on interconnected health-environmental challenges, collaborative approaches, and structural development in science

Francesca MERLIN (CNRS), 2024-01-18 15:00 (CET). To join our colloquium please register with Zoom

KLI fellow Enrico Petracca questions the problem’s main assumption: That cognitive phenomena can be categorized based on their inherent complexity or representation-hunger.

Marianne PENKER (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences), 2024-01-11 15:00 (CET). To join our colloquium please register with Zoom

The Centre for Sustainability Transitions (CST) in Stellenbosch, South Africa, interviewed Guido Caniglia on sustainability challenges.

Gerd B. Müller, president of the KLI, was recently interviewed by Kalevi Kull on theoretical biology and the development and vision of the KLI.

A new paper from the KLI working group brings together social-ecological systems research and evolutionary theory with the aim of building a more integrated and effective science for sustainability.

Alfred RÜTTEN (Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg), 2023-11-30 15:00 (CET). To join our colloquium please register with Zoom

A new article co-authored by Guido Caniglia combines niche construction theory with social-ecological systems science to better understand the relationships between sociocultural and environmental co-evolutionary processes that have led to the current planetary crisis.

Markus PESCHL (University of Vienna), 2023-11-23 15:00 (CET). To join our colloquium please register with Zoom