Howard Pattee's theoretical biology - a radical epistemological stance to approach life, evolution and complexity

This paper offers a short review of Pattee's main contributions to science and philosophy. With no intention of being exhaustive. an account of Pattee 's work is presented which discusses some of his ideas and their reception. This is done through an analysis centered in what is thought to be his mai n contribution: the elaboration of an internal epistemic stance to better u nderstand life, evolution and complexity. Having introduced this core idea as a sort of a posteriori cohesive element of a complex but highly coherent and complete system of thinking, further specific elements are also review ed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.