b. 1952
John Dupré is a British philosopher of science best known for his work in philosophy of biology and his critique of scientific reductionism. He has argued against genetic determinism and developed the position of 'promiscuous realism' regarding biological classification. His work examines the metaphysical implications of contemporary biology, including genetics, genomics, and the nature of complex biological systems.
Developed 'promiscuous realism' — the view that multiple, cross-cutting classification schemes can all be equally legitimate in biology
Authored The Disorder of Things (1993), a landmark critique of the unity of science thesis
Critiqued genetic determinism and reductionist accounts of complex biological phenomena
Co-founded and directed Egenis (ESRC Centre for Genomics in Society) at the University of Exeter
Advanced process ontology as an alternative framework for understanding living systems