Introduction:BiologizingCulture/CulturingBiology 3
these various contexts, the uses, and meanings of matters biological,
withoutprivileginganyofthem.
Before proceeding any further, it is necessary to clarify what can
usefully be said about biology in the following argument. In other
words, whatare wespeaking about when weuse the term "biology"? A
look at some current lexical definitions reveals a consensual core and a
setofconceptualoverlaps:
I. In non-scientific use, relating to biographical study and writing. A
biographicalhistoryofaperson,place,etc.;abiography.Lateralso:the
studyofhumanlife,character,orsociety.Nowrare.[inusesince1686]
II. A branch of science, and related senses. The branch of science that
dealswithlivingorganismsasobjectsofstudy,apartfromanyutilitarian
value they may have, and now comprising more specialized disciplines
suchaszoology,botany,andbacteriology.
Thebiologicalcharacteristicsandattributesofanorganism,species,etc.
Thelivingorganismsofaparticulararea,environment,etc.[inusesince
1871]("Biology,"OxfordEnglishDictionaryn.pag.)- The science of life and of living organisms, including their structure,
function, growth, origin, evolution, and distribution. It includes botany
andzoologyandalltheirsubdivisions.
2.Thelifeprocessesorcharacteristicphenomenaofagrouporcategory
oflivingorganisms:thebiologyoffungi.
3.Theplantandanimallifeofaspecificareaorregion.("Biology,"The
American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language n. pag.)
Thescienceconcernedwiththephenomenaoflifeandlivingorganisms.
("Biology,"TheFreeDictionaryn.pag)1:abranchofknowledgethatdealswithlivingorganismsandvital
processes
2a:theplantandanimallifeofaregionorenvironment
b:thelifeprocessesespeciallyofanorganismorgroup;broadly:
ecology("Biology,"MerriamWebstern.pag.)On the evidence presented in these definitions, the way we use
biology makes it tangentially related, if not congruous with "life