Stepping Stones Towards an Authentic Theory of Biology

Abstract

If the developmental process in living organism were such that every change in genotype resulted in a different phenotype and every different phenotype was the result of a difference in genotype, the study of 
the origin of organic variation would be greatly simplified. However, it is now very clear from the available evidence that it is not the case. Despite the fact that genetics, genomics, and evolutionary biology came up with some significant achievements in different practical applications since the 
discovery of the structure of DNA and the knowledge gained from genome sequencing projects, we are still lacking a much needed conceptual understanding of the biological development that leads to the 
manifestation of different life forms that we observe on our Earth. There is a need for an extensive scientific critique and reconfiguration of the ontological framework of organization, ontogeny, and 
evolution of organic form that is commonly practiced in modern science. Modern science needs a sound philosophical approach to arrive at a viable alternative for development of a biological theory worthy of 
life. The role of “consciousness” cannot be ignored from the factors that mould the organisms over time. Vedāntic view explains that life has an immanent self-construction capability and it can be observed 
empirically where an immanent subjective process within a single cell zygote produces varieties of cells that are necessary for different functions in the body of a particular species. Similarly, Vedānta advocates 
that different forms originate from the ādi-puruṣa or primeval personal Absolute, and in the reflected material sphere, the various species of life are subject to a developing principle of evolution of 
consciousness. This paper discusses the perplexities of materialistic views of origin of organic form and further advocates the Vedāntic view (different organic forms are outcome of life’s self-construction 
capability) as the stepping stones towards an authentic theory of biology.