Philosophical reflections on synthetic biology in the Anthropocene

TANG Xinghua; LU Qianneng; HU Yilin

doi:10.12211/2096-8280.2024-039

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Philosophical reflections on synthetic biology in the Anthropocene

Invited Review | 更新时间：2025-06-20

- Philosophical reflections on synthetic biology in the Anthropocene
- Synthetic Biology Journal Vol. 6, Issue 1, Pages: 203-212(2025)
- 作者机构：
  
  1.中国地质大学（北京）马克思主义学院，北京 100083
  2.电子科技大学马克思主义学院，四川成都 611731
  3.清华大学科学史系，北京 100084
- 作者简介：
- 基金信息：
- DOI：10.12211/2096-8280.2024-039
  CLC： Q81
- Received：28 April 2024，
  
  Revised：2024-09-23，
  
  Published：31 January 2025
- 稿件说明：
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唐兴华，陆钱能，胡翌霖. 人类世中对合成生物学的哲学反思［J］. 合成生物学， 2025， 6（1）： 203-212

TANG Xinghua， LU Qianneng， HU Yilin. Philosophical reflections on synthetic biology in the Anthropocene［J］. Synthetic Biology Journal， 2025， 6（1）： 203-212
唐兴华，陆钱能，胡翌霖. 人类世中对合成生物学的哲学反思［J］. 合成生物学， 2025， 6（1）： 203-212 DOI： 10.12211/2096-8280.2024-039.

TANG Xinghua， LU Qianneng， HU Yilin. Philosophical reflections on synthetic biology in the Anthropocene［J］. Synthetic Biology Journal， 2025， 6（1）： 203-212 DOI： 10.12211/2096-8280.2024-039.

摘要

合成生物学作为21世纪改变生命领域的科学，其所具有的跨学科性、打破人工与自然的界限、强调人的作用和技术对我们生存方式的塑造等，是我们所处的人类世所面临的共同挑战。首先，作为顺应人类世呼声的合成生物学，打破自然与人工界限，实现二者融合，在更深层的“生命”领域体现了技术对我们的塑造。其次，合成生命打破传统意义上的学科划分，成为不同学科的研究对象，促使多学科交叉和融合，而合成生命具有的开放性和合成生物学发展的生成性，则决定了合成生物学面向未来的特性，改变了人类世中技术研究的方向。最后，技术哲学所关注的“大问题”和“小问题”在合成生物学这里实现了统一。合成生物学既有“大问题”也有“小问题”，对合成生物学的研究既要关注一般性的大问题，又要关注其产生的具体的小问题。总之，合成生物学作为人类世中的技术形态，对其涵义和特征进行哲学反思，有助于从新的理论范式下理解合成生物学。

Abstract

Synthetic biology

as a science transforming life science in the 21st century

is interdisciplinary in nature

breaking boundaries

emphasizing human roles

and shaping our way of living through technology

presenting common challenges in the Anthropocene era we live in. As a technology of the Anthropocene

synthetic biology blurs the line between nature and artificiality

merging the two and demonstrating the profound impact of technology on life itself. Synthetic life not only obscures the boundary between nature and artificiality but also transcends traditional disciplinary divisions

becoming a research object across various fields

thereby promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and integration. In this process

the openness of synthetic life and the generative nature of synthetic biology determine its future-oriented characteristics

altering the direction of technological research in the Anthropocene. Finally

the “big questions” and “small questions” that the philosophy of technology concerns about are unified in synthetic biology. Synthetic biology encompasses both general issues and its specific developments and applications. In summary

philosophical reflections on synthetic biology as a technological platform in the Anthropocene contribute to a deeper understanding of synthetic biology within a new theoretical framework.

关键词

Keywords

references

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