The Ramsey Lab
LightNews LightNews
theramseylab.bsky.social
The Ramsey Lab
@theramseylab.bsky.social
1.3K followers 1.3K following 71 posts
The Ramsey philosophy of biology lab at KU Leuven, Belgium.
https://www.theramseylab.org • #HPbio #philsci #philsky #evosky #paleosky #cogsci
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
theramseylab.bsky.social
The Ramsey Lab @theramseylab.bsky.social · Sep 11
Organisms alter selective pressures in many ways. But can they also shape the drift probabilities of their populations? In our recent paper, we argue that they can—and, in doing so, we expand the scope of #nicheconstruction theory 📄👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #HPBio #evobio #ecology #HPS
Screenshot of the article header from Synthese, titled ‘Driftability and niche construction,’ authored by Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda and Grant Ramsey.
theramseylab.bsky.social
The surprising crab-trap–pulling behavior is described in this article: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

We recently published a paper on how animal tool use is conceptualized, offering a framework to make sense of its different forms 👇📃 www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #evosky #philsci
November 27, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Reposted by The Ramsey Lab
augustenahas.bsky.social
My latest paper, The Case for Pluralism About Teleological Explanation, is now available @philscijournal.bsky.social!

#philsci #HPbio #HPS
The Case for Pluralism About Teleological Explanation | Philosophy of Science | Cambridge Core
The Case for Pluralism About Teleological Explanation
www.cambridge.org
November 25, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Reposted by The Ramsey Lab
micrott.bsky.social
Is it a flagellate? A tiny ball with tentacles? Contamination in my ciliate culture? NEW SUPERGROUP OF EUKARYOTES? Yes to all 4! Meet Solarion - just out in #Nature doi.org/10.1038/s415... Huge congrats to Marek Valt, Cepicka Lab & the star team! Very happy to be part of this project. #ProtistsOnSky
November 19, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Reposted by The Ramsey Lab
modeltransfer.bsky.social
⏰DEADLINE APPROACHING

Our team member Edoardo Peruzzi organizes a workshop together with @karimbaraghith.bsky.social:

"Scientific Progress via Model Transfer? The Case of Cultural Evolution"

📍 Leibniz Universität Hannover
📅 April 9–10, 2026

Below you’ll find more information about CfP 👇
November 25, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted by The Ramsey Lab
clpskuleuven.bsky.social
In their new 📃, @elisj.bsky.social & Vincent Cuypers argue that the marine sciences, with their extreme environmental constraints, offer revealing cases for #philsci that can sharpen our understanding of scientific generalization & the role of values 🌊🪸👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #HPBio #HPS
Screenshot of the header of a journal article from History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences (2025), volume 47, article 43. The paper is titled “Marine constraints as philosophical opportunities: the Krogh principle and the benefits of philosophical engagement with the sea.” The authors listed are Elis Jones and Vincent Cuypers.
November 22, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Reposted by The Ramsey Lab
sabinaleonelli.bsky.social
The call for applications for 2026 European Advanced School in Philosophy of Life Sciences is now open! Deadline 15 Jan 2026, theme will be “philosophy of biology for a healthy planet”, all info here: www.kli.ac.at/en/events/ev... graduate students &early postdocs, do consider joining us! #philsci
Events | Event Calendar | Discover The KLI
The Konrad Lorenz Institute provides a stimulating and creative environment for fellows, visiting scholars, students, and external faculty.
www.kli.ac.at
November 20, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Reposted by The Ramsey Lab
andrameneganzin.bsky.social
Much of the empirical & theoretical landscape on #behaviouralmodernity has changed, and many think it’s high time we ditched the concept altogether. Here’s a minority voice in the choir: I’m skeptical that eliminativism is the panacea it’s often made out to be. 🔜 in Biol Theory

#philsky #evosky🧪🏺
The Fate of Behavioral Modernity - PhilSci-Archive
philsci-archive.pitt.edu
November 8, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Reposted by The Ramsey Lab
wileyprof.bsky.social
Our special issue on Evolutionary Functions of Consciousness, coedited with Tecumseh Fitch and Adina Roskies, now online royalsocietypublishing.org/toc/rstb/202...

Contributions by (1) Irina Mikhalevich; (2) Eva Jablonka and Simona Ginsburg; (3) Nicholas Humphrey; (cont'd)
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences: Vol 380, No 1939
royalsocietypublishing.org
November 13, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Reposted by The Ramsey Lab
biotay.bsky.social
This is a great proposal for studying tool use.
I've been thinking about this for a long time, and when I came across it, I was hoping I would dislike it!
However, I believe that the "four categories of tool use" approach is the right way to study tool use.

Read it if you're interested in the topic
theramseylab.bsky.social The Ramsey Lab @theramseylab.bsky.social · 17d
Defining non-human #ToolUse remains contested, complicating scientific generalization & inspiring the concept of “tooling.” Our new 📄 @philscijournal.bsky.social proposes a synthetic framework to advance research on 🔧 use & tooling 👇 www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #philsci #cogsci #evosky #HPbio
Screenshot of the first page of a Philosophy of Science journal article titled “Tool Use Beyond Humans” by Gianmaria Dani and Grant Ramsey, published by the Philosophy of Science Association. The authors are affiliated with the Center for Logic and Philosophy of Science at KU Leuven, Belgium. Abstract: The definition of tool use has long been debated, especially when applied beyond humans. Recent work argues that the phenomena included within tool use are so broad and varied that there is little hope of using the category for scientific generalizations, explanations, and predictions about the evolution, ecology, and psychology of tool users. One response to this argument has been the development of tooling as a replacement for tool use. In this article, we analyze the tool use and tooling frameworks. Identifying advantages and limitations in each, we offer a synthetic approach that suggests promising avenues for future research.
November 15, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Reposted by The Ramsey Lab
theramseylab.bsky.social
Defining non-human #ToolUse remains contested, complicating scientific generalization & inspiring the concept of “tooling.” Our new 📄 @philscijournal.bsky.social proposes a synthetic framework to advance research on 🔧 use & tooling 👇 www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #philsci #cogsci #evosky #HPbio
Screenshot of the first page of a Philosophy of Science journal article titled “Tool Use Beyond Humans” by Gianmaria Dani and Grant Ramsey, published by the Philosophy of Science Association. The authors are affiliated with the Center for Logic and Philosophy of Science at KU Leuven, Belgium. Abstract: The definition of tool use has long been debated, especially when applied beyond humans. Recent work argues that the phenomena included within tool use are so broad and varied that there is little hope of using the category for scientific generalizations, explanations, and predictions about the evolution, ecology, and psychology of tool users. One response to this argument has been the development of tooling as a replacement for tool use. In this article, we analyze the tool use and tooling frameworks. Identifying advantages and limitations in each, we offer a synthetic approach that suggests promising avenues for future research.
November 10, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Reposted by The Ramsey Lab
nicolettapetridou.bsky.social
Only a few days left for abstract submission at the brand new EMBO|EMBL Symposium Collectivity in living systems: emergence, function and evolution. We have stellar speakers in cell, animal collectives & beyond @priscaliberali.bsky.social @icouzin.bsky.social @ricardsole.bsky.social

Join us!
November 7, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Reposted by The Ramsey Lab
djnicholson.bsky.social
I had SO much fun talking to Paul for almost 2 hours about my new book on Schrödinger & molecular biology. Easily one of the most enjoyable podcasts I've ever done. Check it out!

P.S. CUP has made the PDF of my book free to download for 2 more weeks. Get it here: www.cambridge.org/core/element...
braininspired.bsky.social Paul Middlebrooks @braininspired.bsky.social · 21d
What Is Life? A misleading title for Schrödinger's book.

What is Life? Revisited. A spot-on title for Dan's @djnicholson.bsky.social book, which happens to be a gem.

After reading it and discussing with Dan, I can only picture Schrödinger as a cartoon villain now.

braininspired.co/podcast/224/
November 12, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Reposted by The Ramsey Lab
theramseylab.bsky.social
How did hominins became human? And what is the fate of the "behavioural modernity" concept? Preprint 👇📄

#hpbio #paleosky #philsci
andrameneganzin.bsky.social Andra Meneganzin @andrameneganzin.bsky.social · 19d
Much of the empirical & theoretical landscape on #behaviouralmodernity has changed, and many think it’s high time we ditched the concept altogether. Here’s a minority voice in the choir: I’m skeptical that eliminativism is the panacea it’s often made out to be. 🔜 in Biol Theory

#philsky #evosky🧪🏺
The Fate of Behavioral Modernity - PhilSci-Archive
philsci-archive.pitt.edu
November 8, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Reposted by The Ramsey Lab
alejandrofabregastejeda.com
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
November 7, 2025 at 3:34 PM
theramseylab.bsky.social
Defining non-human #ToolUse remains contested, complicating scientific generalization & inspiring the concept of “tooling.” Our new 📄 @philscijournal.bsky.social proposes a synthetic framework to advance research on 🔧 use & tooling 👇 www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #philsci #cogsci #evosky #HPbio
Screenshot of the first page of a Philosophy of Science journal article titled “Tool Use Beyond Humans” by Gianmaria Dani and Grant Ramsey, published by the Philosophy of Science Association. The authors are affiliated with the Center for Logic and Philosophy of Science at KU Leuven, Belgium. Abstract: The definition of tool use has long been debated, especially when applied beyond humans. Recent work argues that the phenomena included within tool use are so broad and varied that there is little hope of using the category for scientific generalizations, explanations, and predictions about the evolution, ecology, and psychology of tool users. One response to this argument has been the development of tooling as a replacement for tool use. In this article, we analyze the tool use and tooling frameworks. Identifying advantages and limitations in each, we offer a synthetic approach that suggests promising avenues for future research.
November 10, 2025 at 2:15 PM
theramseylab.bsky.social
How did hominins became human? And what is the fate of the "behavioural modernity" concept? Preprint 👇📄

#hpbio #paleosky #philsci
andrameneganzin.bsky.social Andra Meneganzin @andrameneganzin.bsky.social · 19d
Much of the empirical & theoretical landscape on #behaviouralmodernity has changed, and many think it’s high time we ditched the concept altogether. Here’s a minority voice in the choir: I’m skeptical that eliminativism is the panacea it’s often made out to be. 🔜 in Biol Theory

#philsky #evosky🧪🏺
The Fate of Behavioral Modernity - PhilSci-Archive
philsci-archive.pitt.edu
November 8, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Reposted by The Ramsey Lab
profmatthaber.bsky.social
If you know an undergrad that would like to spend the summer doing research in my philosophy of biology lab, encourage them to apply to the U’s SPUR program. Includes a $5,000 stipend and subsidized housing to work in my lab.

Details and how to apply here:
tinyurl.com/SPUR-PhilBio...
The Philosophy of Biology Lab: Entangled Lineages, Classification, and Individuality - Office of Undergraduate Research
tinyurl.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Reposted by The Ramsey Lab
theramseylab.bsky.social
New Element in the #PhilBio series—free to download until Nov 17! Is disease an objective biological fact or a value-laden construct? Peter Takacs argues for a hybrid view that unites both sides under an evolutionary notion of dysfunction👇 www.cambridge.org/core/element... #philsky #philsci #evosky
Book cover of “Biology and Medical Theory” by Peter Takacs, 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.
November 3, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Reposted by The Ramsey Lab
petinozappala.bsky.social
My paper for the Synthese special issue on Gatekeeping in science is out! 🎉
#PhilSci #HPBio #evobio
Gatekeeping in interdisciplinary fields: the case of paleontology after the Modern Synthesis - Synthese
Setting standards for budding interdisciplinary fields is a crucial step in the acquisition of their identity and in making possible their coalescence and institutionalization. However, negotiating wh...
link.springer.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Reposted by The Ramsey Lab
profmatthaber.bsky.social
The thematic issue I co-edited with @javiersuarez.bsky.social "Complicating the Concept of Lineage" is online. Includes papers by Javier & @phieveigl.bsky.social, @lucielaplane.bsky.social, François Papale, Kate MacCord and me. See reply for links to articles:
doi.org/10.1007/s137...
Complicating the Concept of Lineage: A Topical Collection - Biological Theory
Biological Theory -
doi.org
November 3, 2025 at 7:35 PM
theramseylab.bsky.social
New Element in the #PhilBio series—free to download until Nov 17! Is disease an objective biological fact or a value-laden construct? Peter Takacs argues for a hybrid view that unites both sides under an evolutionary notion of dysfunction👇 www.cambridge.org/core/element... #philsky #philsci #evosky
Book cover of “Biology and Medical Theory” by Peter Takacs, 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.
November 3, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Reposted by The Ramsey Lab
grupoanfibio.bsky.social
Conference:
Ciprian Jeler, "The meaning and explanatory roles of selective mechanisms in evolutionary biology"
November 19, at 13:00 (Argentine time)

+info: www.anfibio.com.ar/.../conferen...

Please register here to attend the conference: forms.gle/1xp2q5LSgAvL...
October 28, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Reposted by The Ramsey Lab
andrameneganzin.bsky.social
Francesco d'Errico, Ivan Colage', and I wrote a paper on the evolution of #collectiveintelligence, epistemic #nicheconstruction, and the material traces of #hominin alterations to informational landscapes.

Forthcoming in PTRS B!

Preprint 🔗👇

osf.io/preprints/so...

🧪🏺 #philsky #paleosky #evosky
October 30, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Reposted by The Ramsey Lab
alejandrofabregastejeda.com
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
Book cover of "The Riddle of Organismal Agency: New Historical and Philosophical Reflections" (Routledge, 2025). The book belongs to the "History and Philosophy of Biology" series. The editors are Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda, Jan Baedke, Guido I. Prieto, and Gregory Radick. The design features a geometric pattern of interlocking, multicolored triangles and rectangular prisms in shades of red, yellow, teal, white, and pink. The Routledge logo appears in the lower right corner.
October 27, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Reposted by The Ramsey Lab
freinhard.bsky.social
I have a new paper out in Synthese! It’s about experimental strategies in the historical sciences, using case studies from origins of life research.

link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Re-construction or re-invention? Experimental strategies in the historical sciences - Synthese
Synthese - Prototypical historical sciences are in the business of reconstructing the past based on traces. Experimental research into the past often seems precluded by the very nature of...
link.springer.com
October 9, 2025 at 1:22 PM