cells die for a higher good

Share This
« Back to Index

An example of anthropomorphism and teleology in polular science writing"

"By limiting their reproduction and dying at the right time, cells inside bodies sacrifice themselves for a higher good, the functioning of the body as a whole."

Neil Shubin

Shubin, N. (2020). Some Assembly Required. Decoding four billion years of life, from ancient fossils to DNA. Oneworld Publications.

Read about teleology in science

Read examples of teleological (pseudo)explanations for scientific pheneomena

Read about anthropomorphism

Read about examples of anthropomorphism in science

Tags: cells
[Please be aware that a word may have different nuances, or even a different meaning, according to context.]« Back to Index

Author: Keith

Former school and college science teacher, teacher educator, research supervisor, and research methods lecturer. Emeritus Professor of Science Education at the University of Cambridge.