Defending Life: The Nature of Host-Parasite Relations

ISBN-13: 9781402056758 / Angielski / Twarda / 2007 / 241 str.

Elling Ulvestad

Opis

Defending Life discusses the relationship between hosts and parasites. It contains detailed descriptions of the immune system and the microbial world as well as methodological and conceptual clarifications. Its emphasis on analytical abstractions, coherent patterns and generative mechanisms makes possible the distinction between genuine causality and coincidental associations and increases the understanding of why we observe what we observe.

Recenzje

From the reviews:

"Defending Life is one of the serious efforts to understand the science of immunology theoretically ... . This book is not only an important contribution towards understanding the restrictions under which immunology now functions, but it provocatively suggests how the discipline might reorient itself to address more effectively not only the molecular mechanisms of immune reactions, but also their regulations and organization. ... a propitious step towards the full adoption of immunology by philosophy of biology as a member in good standing." (Alfred I. Tauber, Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, Vol. 51 (2), 2008)

Spis treści

Introduction Preface 1 Tracks of thought 1.1 Organismal maintenance 1.2 The war metaphor 1.3 Metaimmunological musings 2 Immunobiology 2.1 The received view 2.2 The integrated view 2.3 The many and the one 3 Adaptive plasticity 3.1 Totalities of involvement 3.2 Equipping the adaptive toolbox 3.3 Exemption explained 4 Natura naturans 4.1 Situating life 4.2 Social evolution 4.3 Coevolutionary dynamics 5 Disabled defences 5.1 Failure to perform 5.2 The re-enacting of ancient conflicts 5.3 Environmental challenges References Index