Review of Creative Nature (part 2)

The short monograph Creative Nature (Francisco Javier Novo, Rubén Pereda, and Javier Sánchez-Cañizares. 2018. Naturaleza Creativa. Madrid: Rialp. ISBN: 978-84-321-4916-0. 196 pp. Paperback, €14.25) is a welcome contribution to the philosophy of nature that arose from interdisciplinary conversations between authors who are both up-to-date in the scientific literature and deeply grounded in the western intellectual tradition. In this second part of our review essay, we offer three themes for further reflection: (1) seeing the whole: synergy between philosophy of nature and empirical studies, (2) boundary questions: philosophy of nature as a mediator of dialogue between science and religion, and (3) whether the book helps defend a natural philosophy of form and finality. In conclusion, we recommend this book as a way to bridge science and philosophy and as a point of departure for theological reflection.The short monograph Creative Nature (Francisco Javier Novo, Rubén Pereda, and Javier Sánchez-Cañizares. 2018. Naturaleza Creativa. Madrid: Rialp. ISBN: 978-84-321-4916-0. 196 pp. Paperback, €14.25) is a welcome contribution to the philosophy of nature that arose from interdisciplinary conversations between authors who are both up-to-date in the scientific literature and deeply grounded in the western intellectual tradition. In this second part of our review essay, we offer three themes for further reflection: (1) seeing the whole: synergy between philosophy of nature and empirical studies, (2) boundary questions: philosophy of nature as a mediator of dialogue between science and religion, and (3) whether the book helps defend a natural philosophy of form and finality. In conclusion, we recommend this book as a way to bridge science and philosophy and as a point of departure for theological reflection

Waking up from transhumanist dreams: reframing cancer in an evolving universe

Technological dystopias incarnate transhumanist dreams of a this-worldly blissful immortality gone awry. Underlying these worldviews is a globalized technocratic paradigm. One response to these transhumanist dreams is to remind ourselves of how Nature actually works–its origins, constrains, and future. Our relationship with Nature spills over into how we feel standing face-to-face with vulnerability and suffering. In this article I reframe cancer as a journey of maintaining harmony with Nature in an evolving universe instead of a war against death that we are destined to lose. I argue that understanding the natural world helps us come to peace with the reality of cancer, and find opportunities to love in and through vulnerability and suffering. In contrast to transhumanist dreams, being human presents an opportunity to welcome the reality of imperfection, to be liberated from our addiction to technological control, to draw together as a community, and to live the lessons of each stage of our finite life to their fullest. I hope this reflection, grounded in scientific literature and engaging with richly embodied medical humanities readings, can help us all reframe cancer, from books to bench to biotech to bedside

Review of the Autobiography of Josef Svoboda, Canadian Arctic Climate Scientist

In Wine from Raisins, Josef Svoboda, a Canadian arctic climate scientist, tells the story of his own life that encompassed 20th-century history and winds up facing the most important questions of the 21st century – questions about what we have learned from nature, what we have done to our environment and who we will become as we drift away from the natural world toward one immersed in our own technological creations. Readers of Wine from Raisins will glimpse the world through the eyes of Svoboda, who combines scientific training with a contemplative gaze

Review of Naturaleza creativa

The short monograph Creative Nature (Francisco Javier Novo, Rubén Pereda, and Javier Sánchez -Cañizares. 2018. Naturaleza Creativa. Madrid: Rialp. ISBN: 978-84- 321-4916-0. 196 pp. Paperback, €14.25) is a welcome contribution to the philosophy of nature that arose from interdisciplinary conversations between authors who are both up-to-date in the scientific literature and deeply grounded in the western intellectual tradition. The authors draw from modern physics, biochemistry, evolutionary biology, developmental biology and ecology to argue that nature is creative in the sense that an “open future” of our evolving world lies ahead. In this review essay, divided into two parts, we offer a chapter-by-chapter summary covering Nature, Life, Change, Limits, Functions and Creativity. In conclusion, we offer some pedagogical possibilities. The second part proposes certain points for deeper reflection

Pierre Duhem and scientific truth: contextual, partial and real

Mariano Artigas understood scientific truth as real, but at the same time contextual and partial. Artigas shared some research interests and a general outlook with Pierre Duhem. We summarize the evaluation of Duhem’s thought by relevant authors and demonstrate how the way Artigas understood scientific truth in actual scientific research offers a suitable framework for capturing the realism towards which Duhem tended. This reading of Duhem runs counter to tendencies of the philosophy of science in Duhem’s time which employed expressions that sometimes framed him as a conventionalist

Waking up from transhumanist dreams: reframing cancer in an evolving universe

Technological dystopias incarnate transhumanist dreams of a this-worldly blissful immortality gone awry. Underlying these worldviews is a globalized technocratic paradigm. One response to these transhumanist dreams is to remind ourselves of how Nature actually works–its origins, constrains, and future. Our relationship with Nature spills over into how we feel standing face-to-face with vulnerability and suffering. In this article I reframe cancer as a journey of maintaining harmony with Nature in an evolving universe instead of a war against death that we are destined to lose. I argue that understanding the natural world helps us come to peace with the reality of cancer, and find opportunities to love in and through vulnerability and suffering. In contrast to transhumanist dreams, being human presents an opportunity to welcome the reality of imperfection, to be liberated from our addiction to technological control, to draw together as a community, and to live the lessons of each stage of our finite life to their fullest. I hope this reflection, grounded in scientific literature and engaging with richly embodied medical humanities readings, can help us all reframe cancer, from books to bench to biotech to bedside

Review of Naturaleza creativa

The short monograph Creative Nature (Francisco Javier Novo, Rubén Pereda, and Javier Sánchez -Cañizares. 2018. Naturaleza Creativa. Madrid: Rialp. ISBN: 978-84- 321-4916-0. 196 pp. Paperback, €14.25) is a welcome contribution to the philosophy of nature that arose from interdisciplinary conversations between authors who are both up-to-date in the scientific literature and deeply grounded in the western intellectual tradition. The authors draw from modern physics, biochemistry, evolutionary biology, developmental biology and ecology to argue that nature is creative in the sense that an “open future” of our evolving world lies ahead. In this review essay, divided into two parts, we offer a chapter-by-chapter summary covering Nature, Life, Change, Limits, Functions and Creativity. In conclusion, we offer some pedagogical possibilities. The second part proposes certain points for deeper reflection

Pierre Duhem and scientific truth: contextual, partial and real

Mariano Artigas understood scientific truth as real, but at the same time contextual and partial. Artigas shared some research interests and a general outlook with Pierre Duhem. We summarize the evaluation of Duhem’s thought by relevant authors and demonstrate how the way Artigas understood scientific truth in actual scientific research offers a suitable framework for capturing the realism towards which Duhem tended. This reading of Duhem runs counter to tendencies of the philosophy of science in Duhem’s time which employed expressions that sometimes framed him as a conventionalist

A novel phosphocholine‐mimetic inhibits a pro‐inflammatory conformational change in C‐reactive protein

Abstract C‐reactive protein (CRP) is an early‐stage acute phase protein and highly upregulated in response to inflammatory reactions. We recently identified a novel mechanism that leads to a conformational change from the native, functionally relatively inert, pentameric CRP (pCRP) structure to a pentameric CRP intermediate (pCRP*) and ultimately to the monomeric CRP (mCRP) form, both exhibiting highly pro‐inflammatory effects. This transition in the inflammatory profile of CRP is mediated by binding of pCRP to activated/damaged cell membranes via exposed phosphocholine lipid head groups. We designed a tool compound as a low molecular weight CRP inhibitor using the structure of phosphocholine as a template. X‐ray crystallography revealed specific binding to the phosphocholine binding pockets of pCRP. We provide in vitro and in vivo proof‐of‐concept data demonstrating that the low molecular weight tool compound inhibits CRP‐driven exacerbation of local inflammatory responses, while potentially preserving pathogen‐defense functions of CRP. The inhibition of the conformational change generating pro‐inflammatory CRP isoforms via phosphocholine‐mimicking compounds represents a promising, potentially broadly applicable anti‐inflammatory therapy