Claus Emmeche
Encyclopedia
Claus Emmeche is a Danish theoretical biologist and philosopher. He is associate professor at the University of Copenhagen
, and is head of the Center for the Philosophy of Nature and Science Studies at the Faculty of Science (CPNSS, hosted by the Niels Bohr Institute
).
His research interests are in philosophy of science
, especially philosophy of biology, theoretical biology (especially morphogenesis
and evolution
, developmental systems, complex systems
), artificial life
, biosemiotics
, and other areas within philosophy
.
's education reforms, which the petition claimed undermined academic freedom
by granting a broad majority of the management of universities to people from outside the academic community. As of August, 2008, 35% of Danish academics had signed the petition. By November, this figure had risen to about 50%.
In Danish, Emmeche has authored or co-authored at least 5 books, 25 articles, and over 47 other works.
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
, and is head of the Center for the Philosophy of Nature and Science Studies at the Faculty of Science (CPNSS, hosted by the Niels Bohr Institute
Niels Bohr Institute
The Niels Bohr Institute is a research institute of the University of Copenhagen. The research of the institute spans astronomy, geophysics, nanotechnology, particle physics, quantum mechanics and biophysics....
).
His research interests are in philosophy of science
Philosophy of science
The philosophy of science is concerned with the assumptions, foundations, methods and implications of science. It is also concerned with the use and merit of science and sometimes overlaps metaphysics and epistemology by exploring whether scientific results are actually a study of truth...
, especially philosophy of biology, theoretical biology (especially morphogenesis
Morphogenesis
Morphogenesis , is the biological process that causes an organism to develop its shape...
and evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
, developmental systems, complex systems
Complex systems
Complex systems present problems in mathematical modelling.The equations from which complex system models are developed generally derive from statistical physics, information theory and non-linear dynamics, and represent organized but unpredictable behaviors of systems of nature that are considered...
), artificial life
Artificial life
Artificial life is a field of study and an associated art form which examine systems related to life, its processes, and its evolution through simulations using computer models, robotics, and biochemistry. The discipline was named by Christopher Langton, an American computer scientist, in 1986...
, biosemiotics
Biosemiotics
Biosemiotics is a growing field that studies the production, action and interpretation of signs in the biological realm...
, and other areas within philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
.
Activism
Claus Emmeche was one of the organizers of a petition directed at Helge SanderHelge Sander
Helge Mølsted Sander is a Danish politician. He is the former Danish Minister of Science, Technology and Development...
's education reforms, which the petition claimed undermined academic freedom
Academic freedom
Academic freedom is the belief that the freedom of inquiry by students and faculty members is essential to the mission of the academy, and that scholars should have freedom to teach or communicate ideas or facts without being targeted for repression, job loss, or imprisonment.Academic freedom is a...
by granting a broad majority of the management of universities to people from outside the academic community. As of August, 2008, 35% of Danish academics had signed the petition. By November, this figure had risen to about 50%.
Notable works
Claus Emmeche has authored or co-authored at least 31 works in science and philosophy in English. Some of his most notable English works include:- The Garden in the Machine: The Emerging Science of Artificial Life, Princeton University Press, (ISBN 0691029032)
- Downward Causation: Minds, Bodies and Matter by Peter Bogh Andersen, Claus Emmeche, Niels Ole Finnemann, and Peder Voetmann Christiansen. Princeton University Press, (ISBN 0691029032) (1996)
- Towards a Semiotic Biology: Life is the Action of Signs, ed. by Claus Emmeche, and Kalevi KullKalevi KullKalevi Kull is an eminent biosemiotics professor at the University of Tartu, Estonia.He was the president of the Estonian Naturalists' Society in 1991–1994.Ecologist Olevi Kull was his younger brother.-Publications:...
. London: Imperial College Press. (2011)
In Danish, Emmeche has authored or co-authored at least 5 books, 25 articles, and over 47 other works.