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Res Computans: The Living Subject from Yeast to Human

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Abstract

Since modernity, the concept of subject supposes both an anthropocentric and a dualistic view of life and reality. In this study, we carry out an analytic interpretation of the Descartes’ notion of subject, in order to build a different dimension of the concept of subject. We discuss the activity of computing, as the manner by which the living subject relates with and in-forms the world. We further examine computing in the aging yeast as an example of living subject and we try to comprehend the maturity of the subjectivity in Descartes’ res cogitans and in our proposed res computans.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are granted by the National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET). The authors want to specially thank Professor Javier Bussi for helpful reading of the manuscript and advice on the English translation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Philosophical Investigations, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    María Belén Campero

  2. Institute of Experimental Physiology, CONICET, School of Biochemical Sciences, University of Rosario, Suipacha 570, S2002LRL, Rosario, Argentina

    Cristián Favre

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  1. María Belén Campero
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  2. Cristián Favre
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Correspondence to Cristián Favre.

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Campero, M.B., Favre, C. Res Computans: The Living Subject from Yeast to Human. Axiomathes 22, 457–468 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10516-011-9177-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10516-011-9177-5

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