Immunity: From Science to Philosophy

This book explores the essence of immunity. After an initial review of hypotheses, models, and theories proposed to explain immune phenomena in humans and mice, it summarizes the results from synchronic organism-level analyses and diachronic analyses tracing phylogeny. These results suggest that immunity is coextensive with life and is equipped with functions similar to the nervous system. Philosophical reflection with reference to Spinoza and Canguilhem suggests immunity is part of the essence of life--and the essence of immunity embraces mental elements with normativity. Approaching the essence of any phenomenon in this way is called ＂metaphysicalization of science.＂ This book demonstrates the potential of this approach and contributes to a richer understanding of nature.

Key Features

• Reviews the history of immunological theories
• Discusses and integrates science and philosophy
• Provides a biological framework for cognition and self vs. nonself
• Inspired by Auguste Comte’s ＂The Law of Three Stages＂

Hidetaka Yakura, M.D., Ph.D. (Pathology), Ph.D. (Epistemology, History of Science and Technology), is the director of the Institute for Science and Human Existence. After serving as the director of the Department of Immunology and Signal Transduction at the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Medical Research, he embarked on philosophical investigations of immunity in Paris, receiving his Ph.D. from Paris Cité University in 2016. He is currently exploring new perspectives on nature, life, and human existence.