{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]],"date-time":"2026-06-09T17:57:19Z","timestamp":1781027839725,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":68,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"3-4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]],"date-time":"2026-06-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1780963200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]],"date-time":"2026-06-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1780963200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100005874","name":"Universit\u00e0 degli Studi G. D'Annunzio Chieti Pescara","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100005874","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Biol Cybern"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Despite the growing prevalence of network models in biological and medical research, the philosophical foundations of these constructs remain elusive and insufficiently examined. Building on data-driven insights in systems biology and teleological models of integrative physiology, we have criticised agentless theory, relational ontologies, and cybernetic perspectives in biological contexts. We have posited the necessity for a philosophical advocacy of a holistic approach to biology alongside a relational epistemology. A foundational issue in network models in biology and physiology is recognising the network as the predominant meme of contemporary society, which has permeated all aspects of human life and has been cultivated within biology and physiology through modern theoretical constructs and practical applications. By discussing minimal cognition, tinkering, and stigmergy, we argued for a philosophical advocacy of the person as a relational cybernetic organism. Philosophical arguments concerning graph and relational models in biology can be resolved by embracing epistemic humility.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1007\/s00422-026-01044-6","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]],"date-time":"2026-06-09T16:58:14Z","timestamp":1781024294000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Foundational issues of network models in biology"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"120","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1911-3606","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Danilo","family":"Bondi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8712-7044","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Damiano","family":"Bondi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"1044_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"125","DOI":"10.1007\/BF01255834","volume":"97","author":"A Amann","year":"1993","unstructured":"Amann A (1993) The Gestalt problem in quantum theory: generation of molecular shape by the environment. Synthese 97:125\u2013156. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/BF01255834","journal-title":"Synthese"},{"key":"1044_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Andrews K (2020) Ethical Implications of Animal Personhood and the Role for Science. Etica & Politica \/ Ethics & Politics. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.13137\/1825-5167\/30603","DOI":"10.13137\/1825-5167\/30603"},{"key":"1044_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"404","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMe078114","volume":"357","author":"A-L Barab\u00e1si","year":"2007","unstructured":"Barab\u00e1si A-L (2007) Network medicine\u2013from obesity to the \u201cdiseasome.\u201d N Engl J Med 357:404\u2013407. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1056\/NEJMe078114","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"},{"key":"1044_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1038\/nrg1272","volume":"5","author":"A-L Barab\u00e1si","year":"2004","unstructured":"Barab\u00e1si A-L, Oltvai ZN (2004) Network biology: understanding the cell\u2019s functional organization. Nat Rev Genet 5:101\u2013113. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/nrg1272","journal-title":"Nat Rev Genet"},{"key":"1044_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"702","DOI":"10.1038\/ncomms1705","volume":"3","author":"A Bashan","year":"2012","unstructured":"Bashan A, Bartsch RP, Kantelhardt JW et al (2012) Network physiology reveals relations between network topology and physiological function. Nat Commun 3:702. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/ncomms1705","journal-title":"Nat Commun"},{"key":"1044_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bizzarri M, Giuliani A, Pensotti A, et al (2019) Co-emergence and Collapse: The Mesoscopic Approach for Conceptualizing and Investigating the Functional Integration of Organisms. Frontiers in Physiology 10:","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2019.00924"},{"key":"1044_CR7","volume-title":"Etica per la persona: Natura, libert\u00e0, felicit\u00e0","author":"D Bondi","year":"2023","unstructured":"Bondi D (2023) Etica per la persona: Natura, libert\u00e0, felicit\u00e0. MIMESIS EDIZIONI"},{"key":"1044_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/rel15060670","volume":"15","author":"D Bondi","year":"2024","unstructured":"Bondi D (2024) Humility and realism in quantum physics and metaphysics. Religions 15:670. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/rel15060670","journal-title":"Religions"},{"key":"1044_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-9299.2011.01916.x","volume":"89","author":"TA B\u00f6rzel","year":"2011","unstructured":"B\u00f6rzel TA (2011) Networks: reified metaphor or governance panacea? Public Administration 89:49\u201363. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/j.1467-9299.2011.01916.x","journal-title":"Public Administration"},{"key":"1044_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/apha.14064","author":"TL Bothe","year":"2023","unstructured":"Bothe TL, Gunga HC, Pilz N et al (2023) Relativistic aspects of physiology: expanding our understanding of conventional control loops. Acta Physiol. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/apha.14064","journal-title":"Acta Physiol"},{"key":"1044_CR11","first-page":"32","volume":"10","author":"S Brand","year":"1976","unstructured":"Brand S (1976) For God\u2019s sake, Margaret. Conversation with Gregory Bateson and Margaret Mead. CoEvolutionary Quarterly 10:32\u201344","journal-title":"CoEvolutionary Quarterly"},{"key":"1044_CR12","volume-title":"The rise of the network society, II","author":"M Castells","year":"2010","unstructured":"Castells M (2010) The rise of the network society, II. Wiley-Blackwell"},{"key":"1044_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"698","DOI":"10.1086\/687856","volume":"83","author":"CF Craver","year":"2016","unstructured":"Craver CF (2016) The explanatory power of network models. Philosophy of Science 83:698\u2013709. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1086\/687856","journal-title":"Philosophy of Science"},{"key":"1044_CR14","volume-title":"The origin of species by means of natural selection","author":"CR Darwin","year":"1859","unstructured":"Darwin CR (1859) The origin of species by means of natural selection"},{"key":"1044_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"379","DOI":"10.1016\/j.shpsc.2008.09.001","volume":"39","author":"DJ Depew","year":"2008","unstructured":"Depew DJ (2008) Consequence etiology and biological teleology in Aristotle and Darwin. Stud Hist Philos Biol Biomed Sci 39:379\u2013390. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.shpsc.2008.09.001","journal-title":"Stud Hist Philos Biol Biomed Sci"},{"key":"1044_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.1007\/s10441-023-09468-4","volume":"71","author":"TE Dickins","year":"2023","unstructured":"Dickins TE (2023) The role of information in evolutionary biology. Acta Biotheor 71:17. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10441-023-09468-4","journal-title":"Acta Biotheor"},{"key":"1044_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"143","DOI":"10.1093\/jeb\/voae153","volume":"38","author":"J DiFrisco","year":"2025","unstructured":"DiFrisco J, Gawne R (2025) Biological agency: a concept without a research program. J Evol Biol 38:143\u2013156. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/jeb\/voae153","journal-title":"J Evol Biol"},{"key":"1044_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"54","DOI":"10.1007\/s10539-019-9716-9","volume":"34","author":"J DiFrisco","year":"2019","unstructured":"DiFrisco J, Jaeger J (2019) Beyond networks: mechanism and process in evo-devo. Biol Philos 34:54. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10539-019-9716-9","journal-title":"Biol Philos"},{"key":"1044_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/biosci\/biag016","author":"J DiFrisco","year":"2026","unstructured":"DiFrisco J, Orzack SH (2026) Biology needs philosophy, but what philosophy? Bioscience. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/biosci\/biag016","journal-title":"Bioscience"},{"key":"1044_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1007\/s13752-022-00424-y","volume":"18","author":"M Dresow","year":"2023","unstructured":"Dresow M, Love AC (2023) Teleonomy: revisiting a proposed conceptual replacement for teleology. Biol Theory 18:101\u2013113. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s13752-022-00424-y","journal-title":"Biol Theory"},{"key":"1044_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-021-83482-9","volume":"11","author":"C Duclos","year":"2021","unstructured":"Duclos C, Nadin D, Mahdid Y et al (2021) Brain network motifs are markers of loss and recovery of consciousness. Sci Rep 11:3892. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41598-021-83482-9","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"1044_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"68","DOI":"10.1007\/s11229-022-03622-0","volume":"200","author":"G Elek","year":"2022","unstructured":"Elek G, Babarczy E (2022) Taming vagueness: the philosophy of network science. Synthese 200:68. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11229-022-03622-0","journal-title":"Synthese"},{"key":"1044_CR23","volume-title":"The modern legacy of Gibson\u2019s affordances for the sciences of organisms","author":"LH Favela","year":"2024","unstructured":"Favela LH (2024) What is next for affordances? Taking brains seriously in organism-environment systems. The modern legacy of Gibson\u2019s affordances for the sciences of organisms. Routledge"},{"key":"1044_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"R301","DOI":"10.1152\/ajpregu.00396.2018","volume":"316","author":"DS Goldstein","year":"2019","unstructured":"Goldstein DS (2019) How does homeostasis happen? Integrative physiological, systems biological, and evolutionary perspectives. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 316:R301\u2013R317. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1152\/ajpregu.00396.2018","journal-title":"Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol"},{"key":"1044_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"41","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02223791","volume":"6","author":"P-P Grass\u00e9","year":"1959","unstructured":"Grass\u00e9 P-P (1959) La reconstruction du nid et les coordinations interindividuelles chez Bellicositermes natalensis et Cubitermes sp. La theorie de la stigmergie: Essai d\u2019interpr \u0301 etation du comportement des termites constructeurs. Insectes Soc 6:41\u201380","journal-title":"Insectes Soc"},{"key":"1044_CR26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"162","DOI":"10.1037\/a0032928","volume":"17","author":"H Heft","year":"2013","unstructured":"Heft H (2013) An ecological approach to psychology. Rev Gen Psychol 17:162\u2013167. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1037\/a0032928","journal-title":"Rev Gen Psychol"},{"key":"1044_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cogsys.2015.12.002","volume":"38","author":"F Heylighen","year":"2016","unstructured":"Heylighen F (2016) Stigmergy as a universal coordination mechanism I: definition and components. Cogn Syst Res 38:4\u201313. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.cogsys.2015.12.002","journal-title":"Cogn Syst Res"},{"key":"1044_CR28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"115","DOI":"10.1007\/s11229-015-0808-z","volume":"195","author":"P Huneman","year":"2018","unstructured":"Huneman P (2018) Diversifying the picture of explanations in biological sciences: ways of combining topology with mechanisms. Synthese 195:115\u2013146. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11229-015-0808-z","journal-title":"Synthese"},{"key":"1044_CR29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fnetp.2021.711778","volume":"1","author":"PCh Ivanov","year":"2021","unstructured":"Ivanov PCh (2021) The new field of network physiology: building the human physiolome. Front Netw Physiol 1:711778. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fnetp.2021.711778","journal-title":"Front Netw Physiol"},{"key":"1044_CR30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"81","DOI":"10.1080\/0968776042000211548","volume":"12","author":"C Jones","year":"2004","unstructured":"Jones C (2004) Networks and learning: communities, practices and the metaphor of networks. ALT-J 12:81\u201393. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/0968776042000211548","journal-title":"ALT-J"},{"key":"1044_CR31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"503","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cell.2005.05.005","volume":"121","author":"MW Kirschner","year":"2005","unstructured":"Kirschner MW (2005) The meaning of systems biology. Cell 121:503\u2013504. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.cell.2005.05.005","journal-title":"Cell"},{"key":"1044_CR32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.1080\/03085140500465899","volume":"35","author":"H Knox","year":"2006","unstructured":"Knox H, Savage M, Harvey P (2006) Social networks and the study of relations: networks as method, metaphor and form. Econ Soc 35:113\u2013140. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/03085140500465899","journal-title":"Econ Soc"},{"key":"1044_CR33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"307","DOI":"10.1038\/nrn.2016.22","volume":"17","author":"C Koch","year":"2016","unstructured":"Koch C, Massimini M, Boly M, Tononi G (2016) Neural correlates of consciousness: progress and problems. Nat Rev Neurosci 17:307\u2013321. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/nrn.2016.22","journal-title":"Nat Rev Neurosci"},{"key":"1044_CR34","unstructured":"Koffka K (1935) Principles of Gestalt Psychology"},{"key":"1044_CR35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1098\/rstb.2019.0314","volume":"375","author":"D Kosti\u0107","year":"2020","unstructured":"Kosti\u0107 D, Hilgetag CC, Tittgemeyer M (2020) Unifying the essential concepts of biological networks: biological insights and philosophical foundations. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 375:20190314. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1098\/rstb.2019.0314","journal-title":"Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci"},{"key":"1044_CR36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"219","DOI":"10.1080\/02604027.2011.585871","volume":"67","author":"A Laszlo","year":"2011","unstructured":"Laszlo A, Laszlo C, Laszlo E (2011) A systems view of Ervin Laszlo, from one generation to the next: an edited and annotated autobiographical piece. World Futures 67:219\u2013243. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/02604027.2011.585871","journal-title":"World Futures"},{"key":"1044_CR37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.1002\/9780470319390.ch2","volume":"284","author":"MD Laubichler","year":"2007","unstructured":"Laubichler MD (2007) Tinkering: a conceptual and historical evaluation. Novartis Found Symp 284:20\u201329. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/9780470319390.ch2. (discussion 29-34, 110\u2013115)","journal-title":"Novartis Found Symp"},{"key":"1044_CR38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"409","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00857687","volume":"8","author":"JG Lennox","year":"1993","unstructured":"Lennox JG (1993) Darwin was a teleologist. Biol Philos 8:409\u2013421. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/BF00857687","journal-title":"Biol Philos"},{"key":"1044_CR39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"68","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pbiomolbio.2024.03.003","volume":"188","author":"A Lewis","year":"2024","unstructured":"Lewis A (2024) A hypothesis of teleological evolution, via endogenous acetylcholine, nitric oxide, and calmodulin pathways. Prog Biophys Mol Biol 188:68\u201376. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.pbiomolbio.2024.03.003","journal-title":"Prog Biophys Mol Biol"},{"key":"1044_CR40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"169","DOI":"10.1017\/S0263593300028601","volume":"80","author":"JE Lovelock","year":"1989","unstructured":"Lovelock JE (1989) Geophysiology. Earth Environ Sci Trans R Soc Edinb 80:169\u2013175. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/S0263593300028601","journal-title":"Earth Environ Sci Trans R Soc Edinb"},{"key":"1044_CR41","volume-title":"Homage to Gaia: The life of an independent scientist","author":"J Lovelock","year":"2001","unstructured":"Lovelock J (2001) Homage to Gaia: The life of an independent scientist. Oxford University Press"},{"key":"1044_CR42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105","DOI":"10.1007\/978-0-387-36506-0_7","volume-title":"Wisdom, knowledge, and management: A critique and analysis of Churchman\u2019s systems approach","author":"D Matthews","year":"2006","unstructured":"Matthews D (2006) Epistemic humility: a view from the philosophy of science. Wisdom, knowledge, and management: A critique and analysis of Churchman\u2019s systems approach. Springer, New York, pp 105\u2013137"},{"key":"1044_CR43","first-page":"169","volume-title":"Complex adaptive systems: views from the physical, natural, and social sciences","author":"M Olsen","year":"2019","unstructured":"Olsen M (2019) Stigmergy for biological spatial modeling. In: Carmichael T, Collins AJ, Had\u017eikadi\u0107 M (eds) Complex adaptive systems: views from the physical, natural, and social sciences. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 169\u2013197"},{"key":"1044_CR44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"863","DOI":"10.1103\/RevModPhys.51.863","volume":"51","author":"A Pais","year":"1979","unstructured":"Pais A (1979) Einstein and the quantum theory. Rev Mod Phys 51:863\u2013914. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1103\/RevModPhys.51.863","journal-title":"Rev Mod Phys"},{"key":"1044_CR45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.1016\/j.plrev.2025.11.007","volume":"56","author":"L Pessoa","year":"2026","unstructured":"Pessoa L (2026) Beyond networks: toward adaptive models of biological complexity. Phys Life Rev 56:67\u201381. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.plrev.2025.11.007","journal-title":"Phys Life Rev"},{"key":"1044_CR46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"797","DOI":"10.1007\/s10539-016-9551-1","volume":"31","author":"T Pradeu","year":"2016","unstructured":"Pradeu T (2016a) Organisms or biological individuals? Combining physiological and evolutionary individuality. Biol Philos 31:797\u2013817. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10539-016-9551-1","journal-title":"Biol Philos"},{"key":"1044_CR47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"761","DOI":"10.1007\/s10539-016-9553-z","volume":"31","author":"T Pradeu","year":"2016","unstructured":"Pradeu T (2016b) The many faces of biological individuality. Biol Philos 31:761\u2013773. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10539-016-9553-z","journal-title":"Biol Philos"},{"key":"1044_CR48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"735","DOI":"10.1016\/j.shpsc.2006.09.007","volume":"37","author":"M Quarfood","year":"2006","unstructured":"Quarfood M (2006) Kant on biological teleology: towards a two-level interpretation. Stud Hist Philos Biol Biomed Sci 37:735\u2013747. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.shpsc.2006.09.007","journal-title":"Stud Hist Philos Biol Biomed Sci"},{"key":"1044_CR49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1007\/s11229-015-0726-0","volume":"195","author":"C Rathkopf","year":"2018","unstructured":"Rathkopf C (2018) Network representation and complex systems. Synthese 195:55\u201378. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11229-015-0726-0","journal-title":"Synthese"},{"key":"1044_CR50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"377","DOI":"10.1086\/394415","volume":"7","author":"WmE Ritter","year":"1932","unstructured":"Ritter WmE (1932) Why Aristotle invented the word entelecheia. Q Rev Biol 7:377\u2013404","journal-title":"Q Rev Biol"},{"key":"1044_CR51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.1086\/286788","volume":"10","author":"A Rosenblueth","year":"1943","unstructured":"Rosenblueth A, Wiener N, Bigelow J (1943) Behavior, purpose and teleology. Philos Sci 10:18\u201324","journal-title":"Philos Sci"},{"key":"1044_CR52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.4454\/philinq.v10i1.389","volume":"10","author":"C Sachs","year":"2022","unstructured":"Sachs C (2022) A cybernetic theory of persons: how Sellars naturalized Kant. Philos Inq 10:97\u2013124. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4454\/philinq.v10i1.389","journal-title":"Philos Inq"},{"key":"1044_CR53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"439","DOI":"10.1038\/s41583-022-00587-4","volume":"23","author":"AK Seth","year":"2022","unstructured":"Seth AK, Bayne T (2022) Theories of consciousness. Nat Rev Neurosci 23:439\u2013452. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41583-022-00587-4","journal-title":"Nat Rev Neurosci"},{"key":"1044_CR54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"180","DOI":"10.1152\/physiol.00009.2017","volume":"32","author":"GC Sieck","year":"2017","unstructured":"Sieck GC (2017) Physiology in perspective: the importance of integrative physiology. Physiology (Bethesda) 32:180\u2013181. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1152\/physiol.00009.2017","journal-title":"Physiology (Bethesda)"},{"key":"1044_CR55","unstructured":"Simplicius (1907) In Cat. Karl Kalbfleisch"},{"key":"1044_CR56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"156","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cogsys.2023.01.008","volume":"79","author":"R Sims","year":"2023","unstructured":"Sims R (2023) Minimal cognition and stigmergic coordination: an everyday tale of building and bacteria. Cogn Syst Res 79:156\u2013164. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.cogsys.2023.01.008","journal-title":"Cogn Syst Res"},{"key":"1044_CR57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"265","DOI":"10.1177\/10597123221150817","volume":"31","author":"R Sims","year":"2023","unstructured":"Sims R, Yilmaz \u00d6 (2023) Stigmergic coordination and minimal cognition in plants. Adapt Behav 31:265\u2013280. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/10597123221150817","journal-title":"Adapt Behav"},{"key":"1044_CR58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1098\/rstb.2019.0325","volume":"375","author":"R Sol\u00e9","year":"2020","unstructured":"Sol\u00e9 R, Valverde S (2020) Evolving complexity: how tinkering shapes cells, software and ecological networks. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 375:20190325. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1098\/rstb.2019.0325","journal-title":"Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci"},{"key":"1044_CR59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2019.00059","volume":"6","author":"JP Sturmberg","year":"2019","unstructured":"Sturmberg JP, Picard M, Aron DC et al (2019) Health and disease-emergent states resulting from adaptive social and biological network interactions. Front Med (Lausanne) 6:59. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fmed.2019.00059","journal-title":"Front Med (Lausanne)"},{"key":"1044_CR60","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"82","DOI":"10.1093\/acprof:oso\/9780199692040.003.0006","volume-title":"Perception, causation, and objectivity","author":"J Van Cleve","year":"2011","unstructured":"Van Cleve J (2011) Epistemic humility and causal structuralism. Perception, causation, and objectivity. Oxford University Press, pp 82\u201391"},{"key":"1044_CR61","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.36253\/Aisthesis-12754","volume":"14","author":"F Vitale","year":"2021","unstructured":"Vitale F (2021) The teleological program. Ernst Mayr\u2019s teleonomy from philosophy to cybernetics (or Kant\u2019s revenge). Aisthesis Pratiche, Linguaggi e Saperi Dell\u2019estetico 14:17\u201328. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.36253\/Aisthesis-12754","journal-title":"Aisthesis Pratiche, Linguaggi e Saperi Dell\u2019estetico"},{"key":"1044_CR62","unstructured":"Wallace AR (1866) From A. R. Wallace to C. Darwin"},{"key":"1044_CR63","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pbiomolbio.2009.08.001","volume":"100","author":"GR Welch","year":"2009","unstructured":"Welch GR (2009) Physiology, physiomics, and biophysics: a matter of words. Prog Biophys Mol Biol 100:4\u201317. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.pbiomolbio.2009.08.001","journal-title":"Prog Biophys Mol Biol"},{"key":"1044_CR64","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.1201\/b16132-5","volume-title":"Handbook of graph theory, second edition","author":"R Wilson","year":"2013","unstructured":"Wilson R (2013) History of Graph Theory. In: Zhang P (ed) Handbook of graph theory, second edition. Chapman and Hall\/CRC, pp 31\u201351"},{"key":"1044_CR65","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.1017\/S003181910006040X","volume":"48","author":"A Woodfield","year":"1973","unstructured":"Woodfield A (1973) Darwin, teleology and taxonomy. Philosophy 48:35\u201349","journal-title":"Philosophy"},{"key":"1044_CR66","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12859-023-05262-8","volume":"24","author":"M Wysocka","year":"2023","unstructured":"Wysocka M, Wysocki O, Zufferey M et al (2023) A systematic review of biologically-informed deep learning models for cancer: fundamental trends for encoding and interpreting oncology data. BMC Bioinformatics 24:198. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12859-023-05262-8","journal-title":"BMC Bioinformatics"},{"key":"1044_CR67","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"148","DOI":"10.1080\/10407410801977546","volume":"20","author":"FE Yates","year":"2008","unstructured":"Yates FE (2008) Homeokinetics\/Homeodynamics: a physical heuristic for life and complexity. Ecol Psychol 20:148\u2013179. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10407410801977546","journal-title":"Ecol Psychol"},{"key":"1044_CR68","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"748","DOI":"10.1016\/j.shpsc.2006.09.008","volume":"37","author":"J Zammito","year":"2006","unstructured":"Zammito J (2006) Teleology then and now: the question of Kant\u2019s relevance for contemporary controversies over function in biology. Stud Hist Philos Biol Biomed Sci 37:748\u2013770. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.shpsc.2006.09.008","journal-title":"Stud Hist Philos Biol Biomed Sci"}],"container-title":["Biological Cybernetics"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s00422-026-01044-6.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s00422-026-01044-6","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s00422-026-01044-6.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]],"date-time":"2026-06-09T16:58:19Z","timestamp":1781024299000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1007\/s00422-026-01044-6"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]]},"references-count":68,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3-4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8]]}},"alternative-id":["1044"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00422-026-01044-6","relation":{},"ISSN":["1432-0770"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1432-0770","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]]},"assertion":[{"value":"18 January 2025","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"28 May 2026","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"9 June 2026","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Conflict of interest"}}],"article-number":"17"}}