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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 28/09/2026

In their 🆕📄, @alisabokulich.bsky.social & @mattbrewer.bsky.social argue that targeted observation practices in the #geosciences owe much to Peirce’s views on the economy of research, which are better understood as an account of the pursuitworthiness of #data 👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #HPS

First page of the EJPS article titled "Pursuitworthy data collection in the geosciences: from Peirce’s economy of research to targeted observation" by Alisa Bokulich & Matthew Brewer.

Abstract
In the geosciences, field measurements are key sources of data, alongside more traditional laboratory experiments. Regardless of the data’s source, pursuitworthiness is arguably not just a question of the intrinsic merit of the knowledge produced, but also the value of that knowledge in light of limited resources (e.g., time, money, and labor). There is a long tradition of research on this issue in the geosciences, going back to the work of the pragmatist philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce. Motivated by his work as a government-funded geoscientist, Peirce developed a highly original theory of the “economy of research.” In this paper, we argue that Peirce’s views have been largely misunderstood, and offer an alternative interpretation of Peirce’s economy of research as an account of the pursuitworthiness of data. We argue that Peirce’s account is a forerunner of a current sophisticated data collection program in the geosciences, called targeted observation (or adaptive sampling), which is used to evaluate the pursuitworthiness of various possible measurements, experiments, or observations. We conclude by applying Peirce’s philosophical insights to assess the promise and limitations of targeted-observation programs in the geosciences today.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 14/09/2026

You can learn more about this bold and innovative model for open access to scholarship at the following link: 🔗 direct.mit.edu/books/pages/...

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 14/09/2026

My 📗 is #openaccess thanks to the D2O program of @mitpress.bsky.social: direct.mit.edu/books/oa-mon... This initiative for equitable access to scholarship has just opened its new funding cycle: mitpress.mit.edu/the-mit-pres... 🙏 help spread the word & if you represent a library, do consider joining!

Promotional image of the Direct to Open (D2O) initiative of the MIT Press that allows academic books to be read open access.

Promotional graphic on a beige background for the book "The Organism–Environment Pairing: A Historical and Philosophical Reappraisal" (MIT Press, 2026) by Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda. The book cover appears in the center of the image and has a green gradient background. The book series label “The Vienna Series in Theoretical Biology” appears at the top. The title is set in large, bold lettering using three colors: white (“The” and “Pairing”), warm yellow (“Organism–”), and bright green (“Environment”). The subtitle appears below in smaller white text, and the author’s name is printed at the bottom. In the lower right, a monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) rests on clusters of pink milkweed flowers. Behind it, a large pale-green butterfly silhouette fills the background; its outline follows the shape of a red lacewing butterfly (Cethosia biblis).

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 09/09/2026

Deciding when a new experimental system is worth developing is costly & challenging. Vallejos-Baccelliere offers a framework grounded in 3 exp. virtues: opening data domains, enabling fine-grained interventions & reducing theoretical dependence 👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsci #histsci

First page of the EJPS article titled "Material networks, experimental virtues, and the pursuitworthiness of scientific experimentation" by Gabriel Vallejos-Baccelliere.

Abstract
Experimentation plays a central role in most contemporary science, but it is also a complex and resource-intensive activity. Hence, deciding when the development of an experimental system (ES) is worthy of pursuit is a non-trivial epistemic and practical challenge. This paper offers a framework for understanding both the enabling conditions and criteria for the pursuitworthiness of ESs in experiment-intensive sciences. First, it analyzes how ESs are embedded within historically evolving material networks of experimentation, whose viability depends on the availability of standardized components, auxiliary procedures, generic instruments, and well-characterized specimens. Second, it examines the internal causal architecture of experimental systems by distinguishing between technical objects, reliable and stable elements used to manipulate phenomena, and epistemic objects, whose partially unknown properties motivate experimental inquiry. In this context, establishing the feasibility of a new ES typically requires proofs-of-concept using well-characterized specimens that act as generic carriers of epistemic objects. Third, the paper explores the role of theory in shaping experimental practice, determining relevance criteria, and enabling the extrapolation of knowledge from laboratory to broader theoretical domains. Finally, it argues that the pursuitworthiness of developing a new ES requires developing a framework in terms of experimental virtues. Three such virtues will be analyzed: the potential of an experimental system to open or expand data domains, to enable fine-grained causal interventions, and to reduce theoretical dependence in epistemic access to phenomena.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 08/09/2026

And if you are interested in slime molds, Matt's Cambridge Element is essential reading for learning more about their life cycle, unique physiology, morphology, and behavior, and why this organism is so fascinating for philosophers too! 👇📕 www.cambridge.org/core/element...

Book cover of “Slime Mould and Philosophy” by Matthew Sims in the Cambridge Elements: The Philosophy of Biology series. Against a black background, the title is surrounded by Ernst Haeckel’s illustrations of marine organisms—radial, symmetrical forms in vivid blues, oranges, reds, and greens.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 02/09/2026

New 📃🚨! @rosetrappes.bsky.social & I explore how #environment & #niche concepts are understood & mobilized across the life sciences & beyond, highlighting similarities & differences through a rich range of examples! 👇 philsci-archive.pitt.edu/30940/ #HPbio #philsci #philsky #evobio #envhum #HPS

A diamond-grid collage of photographs depicting diverse environments and organisms across the biosphere. From top to bottom and left to right: a lush green hillside, giraffes on an African savanna with acacia trees, rolling sand dunes of a desert, zebras grazing on open grassland, a close-up of a frog partially submerged in wetland vegetation, a temperate mountain landscape with a river valley and rocky peaks, a misty tropical rainforest canopy, a sea turtle swimming over a coral reef, an aerial view of a meandering river delta bordered by sparse woodland, a snow-dusted rocky mountain summit, and a close-up of tangled fallen tree trunks in a forest.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 26/08/2026

Know anyone who would be interested in reviewing The Organism-Environment Pairing (@mitpress.bsky.social) or other recent books on the environment? @farsouthhistory.bsky.social is looking for reviewers, so you can get in touch with her! 📗🔗 mitpress.mit.edu/978026205282... #histSTM #philsci #envhum

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 26/08/2026

In their new 📃, Ryan O’Loughlin & @danvisioni.bsky.social advance a set of heuristics for assessing the pursuitworthiness of small-scale solar geoengineering field experiments in response to shifting modeling priorities & ethico-political considerations 👇 🔗 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsci

The first page of a journal article from the European Journal for Philosophy of Science, titled "When are small-scale field experiments in solar geoengineering worth pursuing?" by Ryan O'Loughlin and Daniele Visioni, published in 2026.

Abstract

We propose a set of heuristics—scientific rigor, safety, usefulness, engagement, and transparency—for assessing the pursuitworthiness of small-scale field experiments in solar geoengineering research. Rather than offering a fixed logic of pursuit, we emphasize that these heuristics should operate as part of a dynamic and iterative evaluative process within the solar geoengineering research community, responsive to changing modeling priorities, new data, and shifting ethical and political landscapes. We argue that such experiments must be understood within the broader context of climate modeling research, where their primary role is to improve model components and identify further uncertainties. Our analysis assumes, rather than argues for, the pursuitworthiness of solar geoengineering research as a whole. However, we conclude this work by revisiting the overarching question of whether solar geoengineering research itself is worth pursuing; we argue that accounts that focus on how research governance can reduce bias and build stable scientific norms offer a more promising route than appeals to urgency or “moonshot” missions. Overall, we provide a structured framework, situated within scientific practice, that can help determine which field experiments are worth undertaking and why.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 25/07/2026

This is the eleventh article from the topical collection that Enno Fischer (@ennofischer.bsky.social) and I are editing for EJPS. Take this chance to browse the other papers already published 👇 link.springer.com/collections/... and stay in the loop for the remaining additions to the collection!

The landing page for a topical collection titled "The Pursuitworthiness of Experiments Across the Sciences", shown in bold white text on a deep blue banner, with the participating journal listed underneath as the European Journal for Philosophy of Science.

Description
The concept of pursuitworthiness has garnered considerable attention in the philosophy of science in recent years. However, philosophical reflections on the pursuitworthiness of scientific research have almost exclusively focused on theories. This topical collection will put discussions of the pursuitworthiness of experiments on the agenda of general philosophy of science and the philosophies of the special sciences. It will bring together contributions addressing experiments across the sciences, from the physical and chemical sciences to the life, biomedical, and cognitive sciences, as well as the social sciences.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 25/07/2026

What renders experiments in chemistry worth the pursuit? @vanessaseifert.bsky.social argues that experimentation refines theories, serves education, spurs industrial development, seeds technological innovation & enriches the historiography of chemistry 👇📃 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsci

The first page of a journal article from the European Journal for Philosophy of Science, titled "The pursuitworthiness of chemical experimentation" by Vanessa A. Seifert, published in 2026. Below the title and publication details sits the abstract.

Abstract

Chemistry is an experimental science. One cannot learn nor practice chemistry without conducting experiments and spending some time in a laboratory. To appreciate this, I employ the concept of pursuit and show the different ways in which experiments in chemistry have been and continue to be worthy of pursuit. I claim that, beyond theory-testing and development, chemical experimentation has been worthy of pursuit in at least four distinct respects: it is pursued for educational purposes; industrial development; technological innovation; and, the historiography of chemistry. Based on this analysis, I formulate the first explicit taxonomy of pursuit in relation to chemical experimentation. This taxonomy reveals the uniquely important role of experimentation in chemistry. In addition, it shows that the concept of pursuit is a multifaceted and dynamical concept. The analysis of experimentation from the perspective of this taxonomy allows us to consider the value of scientific experimentation in a much broader context than before.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 12/06/2026

The Organism–Environment Pairing was published by @mitpress.bsky.social one month ago! As a reminder, the book is available #openaccess through the D20 initiative: direct.mit.edu/books/oa-mon... Please share it & help us bring this 📗 to as many readers as possible! #HPS #evosky #histsci #booksky

Promotional image of the Direct to Open (D2O) initiative of MIT Press that allows books to be read open access.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 28/05/2026

How would #psychology look through the lens of @michelamassimi.bsky.social's Perspectival Realism? In her new paper, Suilin Lavelle defends the pursuit of Majority World psychological frameworks and experiments beyond WEIRD biases 👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsci #philsky #psysky #cogsci

Opening page of a 2026 European Journal for Philosophy of Science article titled “The pursuitworthiness of majority world psychology,” by Jane Suilin Lavelle.

Abstract
The recent pluralist turn in philosophy of science claims that we ought to support and maintain multiple epistemic frameworks for learning about phenomena. This position is especially clear in Massimi’s Perspectival Realism, which argues that it is only by having more than one perspective on a phenomenon that the potential for reliable knowledge about it emerges. This paper applies Perspectival Realism to the case of psychology—with a focus on developmental psychology—arguing first, that the discipline has pursued frameworks almost exclusively within a Minority World perspective, and second, that the lack of alternative perspectives precludes the field from knowing if its methods of knowledge production are reliable. To redress this problem, it advocates the pursuit of Majority World psychological frameworks, and points towards ways in which this could be achieved.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 12/05/2026

Here is what some scholars I have long admired have said about the book:

Screenshot of a webpage displaying endorsement quotes for the book "The Organism–Environment Pairing: A Historical and Philosophical Reappraisal" (MIT Press, 2026) by Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda.

"This long-overdue history and philosophy of the 'environment' concept illuminates how biology thinks about one of its most fundamental ideas. A rewarding, eye-opening read for historians, philosophers, and scientists alike."
--Tobias Uller, Professor of Evolutionary Biology, Lund University; coauthor of Evolution Evolving and Evolutionary Causation

"A formidable achievement, massive in scope, meticulously researched, densely argued, and timely. Fábregas-Tejeda's book is the definitive work on the history of thinking about the complex relation between organism and environment."
--Denis Walsh, Professor, University of Toronto; author of Organisms, Agency, and Evolution

"Fábregas-Tejeda's discerning analysis brings much-needed conceptual clarity to the enigmatic yet essential subject of biology--the organism-environment relationship. A lively, engaging book that will inform practicing biologists as well as philosophers and historians of science."
--Sonia E. Sultan, Alan M. Dachs Professor of Science, Wesleyan University; author of Organism and Environment

"A tour de force of integrated history and philosophy of biology. With impressive breadth and conceptual clarity, this outstanding monograph reshapes how we think about organisms, environments, and their entanglements."
--Daniel J. Nicholson, Assistant Professor, George Mason University; author of What Is Life? Revisited

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 12/05/2026

It is publication day for The Organism-Environment Pairing (@mitpress.bsky.social)! This 📗 has been deeply formative for me as a scholar, and it owes so much to so many wonderful people. I truly hope it finds many readers! mitpress.mit.edu/978026205282... #booksky #philsci #histsci #philsky #evosky

Photograph of the book The Organism–Environment Pairing: A Historical and Philosophical Reappraisal (MIT Press, 2026) displayed on a small wooden easel. The green cover features multicolored title text and an image of a monarch butterfly resting on pink milkweed flowers, layered over a larger pale-green butterfly silhouette. The spine, visible at an angle, repeats the title and author’s name, Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda. Softly blurred purple-and-white flowers appear in the background.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 28/04/2026

The Organism-Environment Pairing will be published in exactly two weeks by @mitpress.bsky.social ! I am so excited to share it with everyone! If you spot copies in the wild, please do let me know, as I would love to see them! mitpress.mit.edu/978026205282... #philsky #HPS #evosky #boosky #histsci 🌱🐋

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 10/04/2026

Unconventional experiments that later redefine what counts as 'pursuitworthy' are excluded by strict standards. Szymon Miłkoś suggests that we need “transformative” standards: judge risky research by how well it turns intuitions into shareable norms 📄👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #HPS #philsci

Article header from the European Journal for Philosophy of Science (2026), labeled “Paper in Philosophy of Science in Practice.” The title, “Pursuitworthiness of breakthrough experiments: transforming emerging intuitions into established norms,” appears in bold above the author Szymon Miłkoś (with ORCID icon).

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 24/03/2026

Premium members will get an additional 10% with the code PREORDER25 at checkout: www.barnesandnoble.com/b/books/_/N-... Don't let this great offer escape! In any case, you can find more information about the 📗here: mitpress.mit.edu/978026205282... Many thanks for supporting university presses!

Promotional banner with a red-to-purple gradient background advertising a Barnes & Noble book sale. Large white text reads “25% off pre-order books,” with smaller text above noting it is an online exclusive for Premium & Rewards members. A discount code “PREORDER25” is displayed below, alongside a “Shop Now” button. A circular badge in the top right states “Ends 3/26,” and a yellow ribbon notes that premium members save an extra 10%.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 24/03/2026

📢 @barnesandnoble.com is offering 25% off book preorders from today through March 26th, including my forthcoming The Organism–Environment Pairing! (@mitpress.bsky.social) 📗👇 www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-organi... If you were thinking about getting a copy, now is the perfect time! #HPS #booksky🐋🌱

Book cover with a green gradient background for "The Organism–Environment Pairing: A Historical and Philosophical Reappraisal" by Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda (MIT Press, 2026). The book series label “The Vienna Series in Theoretical Biology” appears at the top. The title is set in large, bold lettering using three colors: white (“The” and “Pairing”), warm yellow (“Organism–”), and bright green (“Environment”). The subtitle appears below in smaller white text, and the author’s name is printed at the bottom. In the lower right, a monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) rests on clusters of pink milkweed flowers. Behind it, a large pale-green butterfly silhouette fills the background; its outline follows the shape of a red lacewing butterfly (Cethosia biblis). The layered butterflies visually echo the book’s central idea of an organism–environment pairing.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 20/03/2026

Big Biology strains common accounts of pursuitworthiness. @parvathi.bsky.social & Arrabito argue that these projects blend inquiry, infrastructure development & community platforms and propose a new framework to capture how scientists assess their value👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #HPBio #HPS

Article header from the European Journal for Philosophy of Science (2026), showing the title “What makes big biology worth pursuing? New dimensions of scientific value,” by Parvathi Vijay and Ignazio Arrabito. A grey banner labels it “Paper in Philosophy of Science in Practice,” with DOI, submission dates, and a “Check for updates” icon on the right.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 16/03/2026

In their new 📄, van Panhuys and Jadreškić argue that technical review in high-energy physics functions as a collective mechanism for managing epistemic risk. They show how deliberation over non-epistemic values shapes experimental pursuitworthiness 👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsci #HPS

Header of an article in the European Journal for Philosophy of Science (2026, volume 16, article 19), categorized as “Paper in Philosophy of Science in Practice,” titled "Inductive risk meets engineering risk: Error management and pursuitworthiness in collider physics," authored by Marianne van Panhuys and Daria Jadrėškė, with DOI, submission and acceptance dates, and the journal’s standard layout visible.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 09/03/2026

What a joy to finally share the cover of The Organism–Environment Pairing (@mitpress.bsky.social)! The 📗 will be out on May 12 📆! I look forward to the conversations it sparks among scientists, philosophers & historians! mitpress.mit.edu/978026205282... #evosky #histsci #philsci #philsky #booksky 🌱🐋

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 04/03/2026

Through case studies in astronomy, epidemiology and climate modeling, Penn & Bauer argue that scientific projects should be judged pursuitworthy by their dynamicity—their responsiveness to experiments, models & applications. Check out their 📃👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsci #philsky #HPS

Header of an article in the European Journal for Philosophy of Science (2026, volume 16, article 7, “Paper in General Philosophy of Science”) titled "Judging the worth of pursuing: assessing the dynamic responsivity of a project to experimental and model-building practices," authored by William Anthony Penn and Arica Bauer, shown in the journal’s standard publication layout with DOI and update icon.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 25/02/2026

It has been argued that what sets model organisms apart from other experimental 🐋🌱 is their high representational power. In our latest 📃, we argue otherwise: the hallmark of MOs lies in the dimensions of modeling versatility they afford to scientists 👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsci #HPS

Header and abstract page of an original research article in History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences (2026, volume 48, article 12) titled "Modeling versatility as the hallmark of model organisms," authored by Guido I. Prieto and Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda.

Abstract
In recent years, discussions on the epistemology of model organism-based research have emerged in the philosophy of science. A key topic of discussion is how the epistemic insights gained from model organisms differ from those gained through other experimental organisms used in laboratory and field research. Here, we argue that model organisms are epistemically special due to their nature as ontogenetically changeable, standardized, and evolved material model carriers. These characteristics afford six important kinds of modeling versatility that biologists marshal in their investigations: (i) synchronic target versatility; (ii) synchronic scope versatility; (iii) diachronic target versatility; (iv) diachronic scope versatility; (v) manipulation versatility; and (vi) discovery versatility. In presenting these dimensions of modeling versatility, we also clarify key notions such as ‘representational target,’ ‘representational scope,’ and ‘representational power’ as these apply to modeling practices that involve model organisms.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 02/02/2026

How to decide whether to pursue an experiment? @ennofischer.bsky.social articulates the "context of pursuit" for experiments, in which facilities, research questions, expected gain & feasibility help determine what experiments are worth doing👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsci #philsky #HPS

Promotional image announcing the publication of a paper in the European Journal for Philosophy of Science. The article, classified as a “Paper in General Philosophy of Science,” is titled The Pursuitworthiness of Experiments and is authored by Enno Fischer. The image also shows the journal name, publication details (2026, volume 16, issue 5), DOI information, the author’s name with ORCID icon, and the submission and acceptance dates.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 31/01/2026

Final days to submit an abstract to #PBCS2026! If you are an early-career scholar looking for a supportive environment to discuss your work & meet international peers, consider applying! Another plus this year: The workshop will be in Madrid! sites.google.com/view/xivpbcs... #HPbio #philsci #philsky

Promotional poster for the XIV Workshop on Philosophy of Biology and Cognitive Sciences. The poster features a dark green background with stylized yellow and red floral illustrations around the edges. Large yellow text announces the workshop title. The event will take place 18–19 June at UNED, Edificio de Humanidades, Paseo de la Senda del Rey 7, Madrid. The keynote speakers listed are Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda (KU Leuven), Enara García (SDU), and José Antonio Pérez-Escobar (UNED). The poster highlights a Call for Abstracts (CfA) with an extended deadline of 1st February. Contact information is provided at xivpbcs@gmail.com

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 29/01/2026

I'm touched by the incredibly generous assessments that some of the first readers of "The Organism-Environment Pairing" (@mitpress.bsky.social) have offered! I'm excited to exchange ideas with everyone once the book is published in May! 📗 mitpress.mit.edu/978026205282... #HPbio #HPS #evosky #philsky

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 26/01/2026

In her latest 📃, HyeJeong Han argues that in regulatory science (e.g., 💊 regulation), economic considerations shape decisions to halt experimentation. She shows how costs become integrated into evidential standards & impact institutionalized judgments👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsci #HPS

Promotional image announcing the publication of a paper in the European Journal for Philosophy of Science. The article, classified under “Philosophy of the Biomedical Sciences,” is titled “When to recommend no experiment? Drug regulation and the institutional shaping of pursuitworthiness” and is authored by HyeJeong Han.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 30/12/2025

More information about the offer is available here: www.barnesandnoble.com/b/books/_/N-... And if you’re interested, you can find more information about "The Organism–Environment Pairing: A Historical and Philosophical Reappraisal" at this link: mitpress.mit.edu/978026205282...

Promotional graphic for an online book sale by Barnes & Noble. Large text reads “Premium & Rewards Members Online Exclusive — 25% Off Upcoming Books with code PREORDER25.” A red circle notes “Includes eBooks & Audiobooks,” and a badge says “Premium Members Save an Extra 10%.” The background is a purple-to-red gradient with a burst effect. Along the bottom are book covers, including titles by George Saunders (Vigil), Ross Montgomery (The Murder at World’s End), Matt Dinniman (Operation Bounce House), Patrick Radden Keefe (London Falling), Michael Pollan (A World Appears), Maria Semple (Go Gentle), Jon Meacham (American Struggle), and others.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 02/12/2025

If you are interested, here is the full call for papers: sites.google.com/view/xivpbcs... Be sure to mark your calendars: the deadline is January 15, 2026! The organizing and scientific committees are absolutely stellar in this new edition of the PBCS workshop! #HPBio #philsci #HPS #cogsci #neurosky

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 02/12/2025

I am incredibly honored to have been invited as one of the keynote speakers for the XIV PBCS! This long-standing initiative is very supportive of graduate students & early-career researchers, so I encourage everyone to submit their abstracts! See you in Madrid next year! #HPS #HPbio #cogsci #philsky

Poster for the XIV Workshop on Philosophy of Biology and Cognitive Sciences. The background is dark green with large yellow text and decorative abstract flower illustrations in red, yellow, and green at the corners. Dates ‘18–19 June’ appear at the top right, along with the venue: UNED, Edificio de Humanidades, Paseo de la Senda del Rey 7, Madrid. The keynote speakers are Enara García (SDU), Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda (KU Leuven), and José Antonio Pérez-Escobar (UNED). A bold yellow banner reads ‘Call for Abstracts,’ with a deadline of 15 January. At the bottom is a contact email: xivpbcs@gmail.com

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 02/12/2025

In his latest paper, Jamie Shaw discusses the pursuitworthiness of different types of Big Science—normal, revolutionary & socially oriented—with attention to funding allocation mechanisms, risks, benefits, pluralism & social responsibility 👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #HPS #metasci #philsky

Screenshot of the header of a journal article from the European Journal for Philosophy of Science. The article is labeled as a ‘Paper in Philosophy of Science in Practice’ and is titled "Funding big science: managing diversity, social responsibility, and limited resources." The author is Jamie Shaw, with an ORCID icon displayed.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 25/11/2025

In her new 📃, Marina DiMarco analyzes the NIH’s Sex as a Biological Variable (SABV) policy in the context of exploratory inquiry & confirmatory experimentation, arguing that it offers important reflections on pursuitworthiness judgments 👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsci #HPbio #HPS

Screenshot of the header of a journal article from the European Journal for Philosophy of Science (2025), article 15:71. The article is categorized under “Paper in the Philosophy of the Biomedical Sciences” and is titled “Sex as a biological variable and the pursuitworthiness of exploratory inquiry,” authored by Marina DiMarco, with an ORCID icon beside the name.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 07/11/2025

What makes a neurolinguistics experiment worth pursuing? Nevia Dolcini & colleagues propose two axes of pursuitworthiness standing in an asymmetric relationship: methodological (thresholds for epistemic adequacy) & pragmatic (contextual priorities) 👇📃 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsci #HPS

Screenshot of the article header from the European Journal for Philosophy of Science titled “The pursuitworthiness of experiments in neurolinguistics” by Nevia Dolcini, Bernard A. J. Jap, Chan Wa Kun and
Stephen Politzer-Ahles. The header indicates it is a paper in philosophy of science in practice. The DOI is https://doi.org/10.1007/s13194-025-00691-z

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 27/10/2025

Each generation seems to rediscover the riddle of organismal agency: are organisms agents that pursue intrinsic goals—and how could we know? Our 📕 gathers historians, philosophers & scientists to explore this debate—now available in paperback!👇 www.routledge.com/The-Riddle-o... #philsky #HPS #evobio

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 16/10/2025

Plus, we have some amazing figures by Guido I. Prieto—be sure to check them out!

Modified DEKI schema shown in two panels. (A) Diagram of the DEKI model using the Phillips–Newlyn machine as the carrier, where only the interpreted part of the machine is included within the model circle (M). (B) Similar diagram, but with a model organism (a rodent) as the carrier and a part of another organism (a human figure) as the target. In both panels, the circle labeled M represents the model, partially overlapping with a shaded carrier silhouette, indicating that only some features of the carrier (
X1I,…,XnI
X
1
I

,…,X
n
I

) are interpreted within the model. Arrows labeled D (denotation), E (exemplification), I (imputation/interpretation), and K (keying) connect variables across the schema, including
T1I,…,TkI
T
1
I

,…,T
k
I

(imputed features),
Z1K,…,ZlK
Z
1
K

,…,Z
l
K

(keyed-up features), and
Z1E,…,ZmE
Z
1
E

,…,Z
m
E

(exemplified features). The gray, non-overlapping portions of the carrier silhouettes represent unmodeled or non-interpreted features.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 16/10/2025

We are excited to share our latest paper contributing to the debate on the representational status of model organisms! Drawing on and refining the DEKI account of scientific representation, we argue that MOs are best understood as 'model carriers' 👇📃 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsci #HPBio

Screenshot of a journal article header from Synthese titled “Representing with model organisms: a refined DEKI account” by Guido I. Prieto and Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda. The article is marked as Original Research, published in 2025 (volume 206, article 209), with DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-025-05267-1

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 15/10/2025

Physicists have long been enamored with “beautiful” models—but this seems to have changed in high-energy physics. In his new paper, Martin King argues that experimental contexts strongly determine the pursuitworthiness of “ugly models” 👇📃 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsci #philphysics #HPS

Screenshot of the article header from the European Journal for Philosophy of Science titled “Experiment and the pursuit of ugly models” by Martin King. The header indicates it is a paper in philosophy of the natural sciences. The DOI is https://doi.org/10.1007/s13194-025-00692-y

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 07/10/2025

Still puzzled by the debate on organismal agency? Our edited collection brings historians, philosophers, and scientists into dialogue—offering a wide array of perspectives. An affordable paperback edition will be out at the end of the month! www.routledge.com/The-Riddle-o... #HPS #evobio #philsky

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 16/09/2025

Here’s the program at a glance—we look forward to welcoming our speakers and sparking lively discussions!

Workshop program for September 26th at KU Leuven:

09:00 – Registration, coffee, and pastries.
09:30 – Welcome address by Gianmaria Dani, Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda, and Grant Ramsey.

Session 1: From Animal Behavior to Behavior in Other Kingdoms.
09:45 – Tobias Starzak (Ruhr University Bochum), Understanding Other Minds: Lessons from Animal Philosophy.
10:30 – Susana Colinas Fischer (University College London), Adapting Existing Behavioural Frameworks to the Study of New Organisms: Insights from C. elegans.
11:15 – Coffee break.

Session 2: Challenges in Cross-Species Behavioral Comparison.
11:45 – Nedah N. Nemati (Columbia University), Rethinking Behavioral Similarity in Comparative Neurobiology.
12:30 – Lunch.
14:00 – Linda Grohmann (University of Wuppertal), Behaviour, Cognition, and the Double Bind of Comparative Research.

Session 3: Investigating Plant Behavior.
14:45 – Silvia Guerra (University of Padova), Goal-Directed Behavior in Pea Plants.
15:30 – Coffee break.
16:00 – Gianmaria Dani (KU Leuven), Plant Associative Learning: Why Coincidence Detection Matters.
16:45 – Bengt Autzen (University College Cork), Plants, Risk Sensitivity and Optimal Choice.

17:30 – Free time.
19:00 – Dinner.

Workshop program for September 27th:

08:45 Coffee and Pastries

Session 4. Behavioral Diversity in Single-Celled Organisms and Fungi

09:00 Kirsty Y. Wan (University of Exeter) - Decoding Behavioural Complexity in Single-Celled Organisms

09:45 Kristin Aleklett (Lund University) - Challenges and Opportunities for Studying the Behavioural Ecology of Fungi
10:30 Coffee Break

Session 5. Aesthetics and Choice Beyond Animals
11:00 Anton Killin (Bielefeld University) - Aesthetic Behaviour and Cognition Across the Tree of Life
11:45 Auguste Nahas (Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University) - On the Conceptual Roles of Preference and Choice in Biology
12:30 Lunch

Session 6. Conceptual and Theoretical Resources for Behavioral Comparison
14:00 Mark-Oliver Casper (University of Kassel/ University of Göttingen) - From Motley Crews to Robust Frameworks: Patterning Complexity in Cross-Kingdom Behavioral Science
14:45 Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda, Gianmaria Dani & Grant Ramsey (KU Leuven) - Ethospaces for Comparative Behavioral Biology
15:30 Coffee Break

16:00 Final discussion

16:30 End

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 16/09/2025

We are gearing up for our interdisciplinary workshop next week! Bringing together both established & early-career researchers, the event will explore the theoretical & methodological challenges of studying behavior across the tree of life! 👇 hiw.kuleuven.be/clps/events/... #philsci #HPbio #evosky

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 19/08/2025

The KLI published a report on the workshop @fvergara-silva.bsky.social and I organized celebrating Conrad Hal Waddington's legacies, 50 years after his passing. We brought together philosophers, biologists and historians of science & architecture! www.kli.ac.at/content/en/t... #histsci #HPS #evosky

A group of sixteen participants stand in a row on a lawn in front of a modern building with large windows and wood paneling. They are attending the 43rd Altenberg Workshop in Theoretical Biology, titled “The Waddingtonian Landscape: Rediscovering Conrad Hal Waddington's Legacies in Biology and Beyond”, held at the Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research in Klosterneuburg, Austria.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 04/08/2025

Organismal agency is one of today's liveliest debates in the life sciences. Our volume—published a year ago—brings historians, philosophers & scientists into the conversation, offering the kind of nuanced treatment this complex issue deserves 👇 www.routledge.com/The-Riddle-o... #HPS #evosky #philsky

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 18/07/2025

“Traits” are central units of biological analysis—but how should they be individuated, and relative to which ontogenetic frame of reference? In my new paper, I argue that answering this isn’t easy—and matters more than it seems. 📃👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsci #HPBio #evosky #evodevo

Screenshot of a journal article titled "Two ontogenetic challenges to trait individuation" by Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda, published in Synthese (2025) 205:219. The abstract reads: "Trait individuation is an epistemically indispensable and heuristically fruitful practice in biological science. However, important ontological issues transcend an epistemology-only reading of what trait individuation entails (e.g., adaptation and homology), prompting scholars to advance models and frameworks to grapple with this problem. Here, I articulate two challenges that arise when advancing theories and frameworks to tackle trait individuation: the synchronicity and the diachronicity challenges. The synchronicity challenge involves specifying the traits an organism has at a given moment in ontogeny, whereas the diachronicity challenge involves understanding the causal processes that drive trait individuation in development and tracing these units across time. To delve deeper, I introduce extant functionalist and structuralist perspectives on trait individuation and evaluate how they address both challenges. Overcoming these challenges is necessary for such accounts to fulfill their theoretical promise of individuating the traits that organisms have in an ontologically sound way."

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 09/07/2025

What theoretical and methodological challenges emerge when investigating #behavior across the tree of life? 📢 Final reminder: CfA for an interdisciplinary workshop (September 26-27) at KU Leuven! Come join us, and please help us share! hiw.kuleuven.be/clps/events/... #philsci #HPbio #evosky #ecology

Poster for the Interdisciplinary Workshop “Behavior Across the Tree of Life: Theoretical and Methodological”, taking place on September 26–27, 2025 at the Institute of Philosophy, KU Leuven. The event is organized by Gianmaria Dani, Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda, and Grant Ramsey. The poster features circular images of diverse biological organisms (lichens, bacteria, ants, carnivorous plants) surrounding a central announcement.

Call for Applications:

Deadline: July 14th, 2025

Notification: July 18th, 2025

Open to philosophers and scientists interested in comparative behavioral biology and its theoretical and methodological foundations.

Abstracts of up to 500 words (excluding references), including affiliation and contact info, should be sent to:

gianmaria.dani@kuleuven.be

alejandro.fabregastejeda@kuleuven.be

Invited Speakers:

Kristin Aleklett (Lund University)

Silvia Guerra (University of Padua)

Tobias Starzak (Ruhr University Bochum)

Kirsty Y. Wan (University of Exeter)

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 03/06/2025

What theoretical & methodological challenges emerge when investigating #behavior across the tree of life? We are organizing an interdisciplinary workshop on 'comparative behavioral biology' (Sept. 26-27). Please help us share the open CfA! 📢👇 hiw.kuleuven.be/clps/events/... #philsci #HPbio #evobio

A collage illustrating diverse biological behaviors across life forms: orange and yellow lichens growing on rock (symbiotic behavior), a close-up of bacteria (microbial interactions), leafcutter ants cooperating to carry a leaf (social insect behavior), a sundew plant trapping an insect (plant predation), and phylogenetic trees representing evolutionary relationships.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 05/05/2025

What makes a particular #experiment 'pursuitworthy'? Do criteria differ across scientific fields? @ennofischer.bsky.social & I have extended the deadline for submissions to our topical collection on these issues. Please help us spread the word! 👇 tu-dresden.de/gsw/phil/iph... #philsci #philsky #HPS

Call for papers announcement from the European Journal for Philosophy of Science, published by Springer. The special issue is titled 'The Pursuitworthiness of Experiments Across the Sciences,' with guest editors Enno Fischer (TU Dresden) and Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda (KU Leuven). The new deadline for submissions is 30 June 2025.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 19/03/2025

New essay review in @jgps.bsky.social! M.R. Martínez-Ordaz & D. Cañas assess the prospects of using robust international scientific consensus as a reliable indicator of 'future-proof science,' as proposed by @pvickers.bsky.social in his latest book link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsci #philsky

Promotional image with a yellow and white wavy background. Centered in the image is the title of the essay review: “‘Assessing Vickers’ Plea for Identifying Future-Proof Science’” in black, with the book title italicized. Below, it states: “Essay Review by María del Rosario Martínez-Ordaz & Dubian Cañas” and “Journal for General Philosophy of Science (2025)” in smaller text. At the top left, there is a small image of the Journal for General Philosophy of Science cover (yellow and white with black text), and at the top right, there is the cover of Peter Vickers' book 'Identifying Future-Proof Science,' featuring a dark blue background and a yellow-green image of immune cells.

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 26/02/2025

In response to Graham Priest, Melisa Vivanco argues that demarcating a plurality of pure mathematical structures is no easy task. Check out her new essay review, which I had the pleasure of commissioning & editing for @jgps.bsky.social! 👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsky #mathsky #philsci

Promotional banner for the essay review "Infinite Practices, One Mathematics: Challenging Mathematical Pluralism" by Melisa Vivanco, published in the Journal for General Philosophy of Science (JGPS).

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 10/02/2025

Is basal cognition research on the right track? Drawing parallels with the #evo-devo approach to the #evolution of development, @philosobio.bsky.social & I argue in our new 📝 that it exhibits both promise & potential hurdles in studying cognitive evolution👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsci

Screenshot showing the title and publication details of the article 'On the Prospects of Basal Cognition Research Becoming Fully Evolutionary: Promising Avenues and Cautionary Notes' by Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda and Matthew Sims, published in the journal 'History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences.'

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Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda @alejandrofabregastejeda.com · 02/12/2024

How do we judge whether a particular experiment is 'pursuitworthy'? What factors need to be considered? @ennofischer.bsky.social & I are receiving submissions exploring these & related questions for a topical collection in EJPS! Please help us spread the word! tu-dresden.de/gsw/phil/iph... #philsci

Promotional image announcing the call for papers for the topical collection "The Pursuitworthiness of Experiments Across the Sciences" to be published in the European Journal for Philosophy of Science (Guest Editors: Enno Fischer and Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda). The call for papers runs from November 1, 2024 to April 20, 2025.

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