Machine Metaphor in Biology

The central metaphor under examination: treating living things as machines; the paper argues for its update rather than rejection

Neighborhood — ranked by edge-count

framework

Organicism
contradicts
Philosophical framework emphasizing wholeness, non-reductionism, and unique emergent features of life systems.

cosine ≥ 0.65 · no typed edge

Entities in the same semantic neighborhood but without a typed relation to this one — candidates for new edges or unrecognized duplicates.

Mechanism (Machine Metaphor)framework0.844
Long-standing metaphor in science proposing that living systems function like machines, now in need of updating.
Machine psychologyconcept0.769
Emerging field studying psychological properties of LLMs; the paper aims to bridge psychometric methodology with this field
Model T metaphorconcept0.764
Analogy to early Ford automobiles with adjustable parts (vs. modern opaque engines); design goal for Playground's accessibility to customization.
Machine Consciousnessconcept0.758
Central research domain of the paper's literature search; explores formal approaches to developing consciousness in artificial systems.
What is an appropriate definition of 'machine,' and does it apply to all, some, or no living forms across the tree of life?question0.753
Foundational definitional question motivating the entire paper
Science of Consciousness in Artificial Systemsconcept0.746
The emerging research domain the paper aims to contribute to: systematic study of consciousness-relevant dynamics in AI
Living cells and tissues are not really machines; but then again, nothing is really anything – all metaphors are wrong, but some are more useful than others.claim0.745
Concluding pragmatic epistemology: the machine metaphor's value is heuristic, not ontological
What is an appropriate definition of machine, and does it apply to all, some, or no living forms?question0.739
Central interrogative driving the paper's entire argumentative structure.