Getting it wrong: biological mistake making as a cross-system, cross-scale phenomenon

Oderberg, D. S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9585-0515, Hill, J., Bojak, I. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1765-3502, Gibbins, J. M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0372-5352, Austin, C. and Cinotti, F. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2921-0901 (2025) Getting it wrong: biological mistake making as a cross-system, cross-scale phenomenon. International Studies in the Philosophy of Science, 38 (2). pp. 101-120. ISSN 1469-9281 doi: 10.1080/02698595.2025.2472482

Abstract/Summary

The making of mistakes by organisms and living systems generally is an underexplored way of conceptualising biology and organising experimental research. We set out an informal account of biological mistakes and why they should be taken seriously in biological investigation. We then give an indirect defence of their importance by applying the concept of mistake making to three kinds of activity: timing, calculation, and communication. We give a range of examples to show that mistakes in these kinds of behaviour can be found across a diversity of scales and systems. We also suggest ideas for empirical research that naturally arise from these cases. The reality and potential for mistake making across such a wide range of biological entities shows that it is not a purely human phenomenon. Getting it wrong seems to be central to biology as a whole, and to be a potentially productive organising principle for generating novel research questions and experimental hypotheses.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/121257
Identification Number/DOI	10.1080/02698595.2025.2472482
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Arts, Humanities and Social Science > School of Humanities > Philosophy
Publisher	Taylor and Francis
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