Tamar Schneider (University of California, Davis)
In immunology, the concept of the self/non-self frames the immune system as a discriminatory mechanism of harmful (i.e., pathogenic) from non-harmful (i.e., non-pathogenic) elements in the body. Consequently, the immune-self conceptualizes the role of the immune system as a physiological mechanism establishing the boundary between foreign and domestic elements (Tauber 2004). This framework falls well within the war metaphor used in immunology describing the immune system as ‘surveillance,' ‘detection,' and ‘protection' system against ‘invading' microbes. However, the immune system is, by itself, an elusive and complex system with many different, sometimes conflicting, functions (e.g., chronic inflammation, allergies, autoimmune deficiency).
Furthermore, the immune system is not independently developed. Specifically, its behavior and functions cannot be studied and understood separately from its microbial context (Chiu & Eberl 2016). Thus, when looking and the organism the conceptualization of the immune system is based on a clear physiological definition of the organism’s self. However, when thinking about the holobiont, such self is the result of an interchangeable assembly of many rather than a stable one.
In the poster, I examine new theories in immunology and their suggested solution to the problem of the immune-self illusive discriminatory function (Pradeu & Vivier 2016; Chiu & Eberl, 2016). In my analysis, I use the perspective of two contrasting epistemic virtues in science: simplicity in its ontological meaning and ontological heterogeneity (Longino, 2008). Then, I suggest an alternative framework to the immune-self, from the simplicity and one causal direction to the ontological heterogeneity and mutuality of interactions by viewing the immune-self as the holobiont-self.
Through the examination of the ontological perspective of the new theories in immunology, I show that although their view centers on the interactions between the immune cells and the microbial cells, the immune system is the only causally effective entity. Then, I argue regarding immunity and the holobiont, that the ontological perspective needs to consider also the microbial community as causally effective entities, and as part of immunity.
By taking the virtue of ontological heterogeneity, the framework of the holobiont-self includes the microbes as part of the immune-self which inevitably change the perception of the self to a relational self shaped by its interactions. This change implies the reconsideration of the war metaphor as well.
