Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

On the description of physiological systems: Epistemological considerations

  • Published:
Annals of Biomedical Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

I saw a man chasing the horizon. Round and round they sped. I accosted him. It is futile, I said, You can never-You lie, he said, And ran on.

Abstract

Various points of view concerning what is required for a description to be adequate have appeard in the history of physiology since mathematics began to be used for that description. Three main themes are described in the present paper, and the criteria underlying them are examined. Certain additional criteria are considered for judging among the descriptive themes. The proposition is advanced that questions of heuristic value and questions of relevance to major current themes in the discipline tend to dominate consideration. Judged by these criteria, the suggestion is made that an instrumentalist position may be the most satis-factory epistemological one, and that the application to physiology of finite level models may represent a successful example of the application of this position to physiological description.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Carnap, R.Der logische Aufbau der Welt. Berlin/Leipzig, 1928.

  • Gann, D. S. Parameters of the stimulus initiating the adrenocortical response to hemorrhage.Annals of the New York Academy of Science 1969,156, 740–755.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gann, D. S., and Cryer, G. L. Feedback control of ACTH secretion by cortisol. In A. Brodish and E. S. Redgate (Eds.)Brain-pituitary-adrenal interrelationship. Basel: Karger, 1973 (a). P. 197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gann, D. S., Cryer, G. L., and Schoeffer, J. D. Finite level models of biological systems.Annals of Biomedical Engineering 1973(b),1, 385–445.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gann, D. S., Ostrander, L. E., and Schoeffler, J. D. A finite state model for the control of adrenal cortical steroid secretion. In M. D. Mesarovié (Ed.),Systems theory and biology. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1968. P. 185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grizzle, W. E., Dallman, M. F., Schrmann, L. P., and Gann, D. S. Inhibitory and facilitatory hypothalamic areas mediating ACTH release in the cat.Endocrinology 1974,95, 1450–1461.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grizzle, W. E., Johnson, R. N., Schrmann, L. P., and Gann, D. S. Hypothalamic cells in an area mediating ACTH release respond to right atrial stretch.American Journal of Physiology 1975,228, 1039–1045.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hume, D.A treatise of human nature. Oford: Claredon, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn, T. S.The structure of scientific revolutions. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laszlo, E.Introduction to systems philosophy. New York: Harper and Row, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagel, E.The structure of science. New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poincaré, H.Science and hypothesis. New York: Dover, 1952.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rapoport, A.Operational philosophy. New York: Harper, 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reichenbach, H.Experience and prediction. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  • Santayana, G.Realms of being. New York: Scribner, 1942.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hopkins University School of Medicine, 21205, Baltimore, Marylnd

    Donald S. Gann

  2. Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 21205, Baltimore, Maryland

    Donald S. Gann

Authors
  1. Donald S. Gann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gann, D.S. On the description of physiological systems: Epistemological considerations. Ann Biomed Eng 3, 406–410 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02409325

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02409325

Keywords

Search

Navigation