The Ramsey Lab

Book cover of “Temporal Cognition in Animals” by Angelica Kaufmann in the Cambridge Elements: The Philosophy of Biology series. Against a black background, the title is surrounded by Ernst Haeckel’s illustrations of marine organisms—radial, symmetrical forms in vivid blues, oranges, reds, and greens.

Do non-human animals represent time? New Element in the #PhilBio series by Angelica Kaufmann—free to download until March 16! Kaufmann argues that temporal cognition is widespread across many animal species & advances comparative analyses 👇📕 www.cambridge.org/core/element... #evosky #HPS #cogsci

Welcome to the social media page of the International Philosophy of Biology Circle (IPBC) 🌐

Our aim is to foster an interdisciplinary forum for dialogue on the theoretical, conceptual, historical, and ethical dimensions of the life sciences.

Visit our website to learn more: www.phil-bio-circle.org

Book cover of “Temporal Cognition in Animals” by Angelica Kaufmann in the Cambridge Elements: The Philosophy of Biology series. Against a black background, the title is surrounded by Ernst Haeckel’s illustrations of marine organisms—radial, symmetrical forms in vivid blues, oranges, reds, and greens.

Do non-human animals represent time? New Element in the #PhilBio series by Angelica Kaufmann—free to download until March 16! Kaufmann argues that temporal cognition is widespread across many animal species & advances comparative analyses 👇📕 www.cambridge.org/core/element... #evosky #HPS #cogsci

After several years of work, my lab is starting to put out our first papers on learning in a unicellular organism (Stentor coeruleus).

Here we show evidence for a form of associative learning in Stentor:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Header and abstract page of an original research article in History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences (2026, volume 48, article 12) titled "Modeling versatility as the hallmark of model organisms," authored by Guido I. Prieto and Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda. Abstract In recent years, discussions on the epistemology of model organism-based research have emerged in the philosophy of science. A key topic of discussion is how the epistemic insights gained from model organisms differ from those gained through other experimental organisms used in laboratory and field research. Here, we argue that model organisms are epistemically special due to their nature as ontogenetically changeable, standardized, and evolved material model carriers. These characteristics afford six important kinds of modeling versatility that biologists marshal in their investigations: (i) synchronic target versatility; (ii) synchronic scope versatility; (iii) diachronic target versatility; (iv) diachronic scope versatility; (v) manipulation versatility; and (vi) discovery versatility. In presenting these dimensions of modeling versatility, we also clarify key notions such as ‘representational target,’ ‘representational scope,’ and ‘representational power’ as these apply to modeling practices that involve model organisms.

It has been argued that what sets model organisms apart from other experimental 🐋🌱 is their high representational power. In our latest 📃, we argue otherwise: the hallmark of MOs lies in the dimensions of modeling versatility they afford to scientists 👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsci #HPS

Book cover of “Organic Progress and Evolutionary Theory” by Silvia De Cesare in the Cambridge Elements: The Philosophy of Biology series. Against a black background, the title is surrounded by Ernst Haeckel’s illustrations of marine organisms—radial, symmetrical forms in vivid blues, oranges, reds, and greens.

New Element in the #PhilBio series by Silvia De Cesare—free to download until March 2! De Cesare examines the thorny issue of 'evolutionary progress,' recounting the arguments against and in favor of cashing out this contested notion 👇📕 www.cambridge.org/core/element... #evosky #HPS #philsky

Book cover of “Organic Progress and Evolutionary Theory” by Silvia De Cesare in the Cambridge Elements: The Philosophy of Biology series. Against a black background, the title is surrounded by Ernst Haeckel’s illustrations of marine organisms—radial, symmetrical forms in vivid blues, oranges, reds, and greens.

New Element in the #PhilBio series by Silvia De Cesare—free to download until March 2! De Cesare examines the thorny issue of 'evolutionary progress,' recounting the arguments against and in favor of cashing out this contested notion 👇📕 www.cambridge.org/core/element... #evosky #HPS #philsky

Our BehaveAI paper has just come out!

Easy & effective tracking & behavioural classification, even with tiny (2px), fast moving, camouflaged objects.

Paper: doi.org/10.1371/jour...
Download: github.com/troscianko/B...

@uniexecec.bsky.social @kevinjgaston.bsky.social @jimamclgalloway.bsky.social

How does the strength of genetic drift evolve over long times?

New preprint out 👇

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Header of an article published in Studies in History and Philosophy of Science (volume 109, 2025, pages 12–20), titled "Not wasted on the young: Childhood, trait complexes & human behavioral ecology," authored by Andra Meneganzin (KU Leuven) and Adrian Currie (University of Exeter), shown in Elsevier’s standard journal layout with logo and publication details.

How did childhood evolve? @andrameneganzin.bsky.social & @adrian-currie.bsky.social argue that childhood is a ‘trait complex,’ and this engenders trade-offs between the precision & historical relevance of tests performed in #BehavioralEcology 👇📃 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #evosky #philsci

Yes well said!! "Behaviourally complex"!!

Time we finally recognised that you don't need to be a "higher" animal to exhibit behavioural complexity...

Final reminder 📢 We are looking for a #philbio or #philphysics postdoc for an interdisciplinary project exploring the boundary between living and nonliving systems through the lens of self-organization & active matter 👇 www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo... #philjobs #philsky #HPS #devbio Please share!

A new theme issue of #PhilTransB examines the mechanisms of learning from social interaction. Read articles for free: buff.ly/K8v43YM

The video above comes from a simulation conducted in the Multicellular Systems Dynamics Lab led by @bart-smeets.bsky.social. You can learn more about the work of the lab in this page 👇 www.biw.kuleuven.be/biosyst/mebi...

Postdoctoral Position in Philosophy of Biology or Physics at KU Leuven, Belgium (two years fully funded) Interested in the philosophical aspects of the transition from non-living to living systems?

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, a brief project proposal, a CV (including a list of 2-3 references with contact information), and a writing sample. The application deadline is 16, February 2026, 23:59 (CET) and must be submitted via this portal: www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo...

The project is led by four PIs, philosopher of biology Grant Ramsey and philosopher of physics Sylvia Wenmackers from the @clpskuleuven.bsky.social, @bart-smeets.bsky.social from the Department of Biosystems, and @lendertgelens.bsky.social from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine.

Final reminder 📢 We are looking for a #philbio or #philphysics postdoc for an interdisciplinary project exploring the boundary between living and nonliving systems through the lens of self-organization & active matter 👇 www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo... #philjobs #philsky #HPS #devbio Please share!

Making Sense of Monitor Lizard Cognition: Ecological Drivers of Divergent Cognitive Evolution - Biological Theory Biological Theory - Monitor lizards, some of the largest and most ecologically diverse lizards, have traditionally received little attention in comparative cognition research. Although emerging...

For any one who might be curious as to why monitor lizards might have more sophisticated cognitive abilities when compared to many other closely related lizards here are a few evolutionary hypothesis. I'd more than happy to share a copy of the paper with anyone interested. Enjoy!
lnkd.in/e94-Q5uw

Franz Manni and Francesco D'Errico have put together a HUGE book on the state of the art of the #anthropology & #archaeology of body modification 📿🎨 Ancient beads & pigment (& much more) lovers, this one's for you 👀

#Philsky #evosky #archaeosky #humanevo 🏺

Promotional poster for the XIV Workshop on Philosophy of Biology and Cognitive Sciences. The poster features a dark green background with stylized yellow and red floral illustrations around the edges. Large yellow text announces the workshop title. The event will take place 18–19 June at UNED, Edificio de Humanidades, Paseo de la Senda del Rey 7, Madrid. The keynote speakers listed are Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda (KU Leuven), Enara García (SDU), and José Antonio Pérez-Escobar (UNED). The poster highlights a Call for Abstracts (CfA) with an extended deadline of 1st February. Contact information is provided at xivpbcs@gmail.com

Final days to submit an abstract to #PBCS2026! If you are an early-career scholar looking for a supportive environment to discuss your work & meet international peers, consider applying! Another plus this year: The workshop will be in Madrid! sites.google.com/view/xivpbcs... #HPbio #philsci #philsky

Is the human chin a spandrel? Insights from an evolutionary analysis of ape craniomandibular form Humans are unique among primates in possessing a chin, yet it is currently unclear whether the form of the symphyseal region of the mandible where the chin is located is the product of direct selectio...

The human #chin is a fascinating evolutionary puzzle. This study on craniomandibular form in hominoids lends support to Gould & Lewontin's spandrel hypothesis. Much still hinges on what we count as a genuine morphological character & how that maps (or doesn’t) onto the 'traits' we measure & track.

Screenshot of a webpage displaying endorsement quotes for the book "The Organism–Environment Pairing: A Historical and Philosophical Reappraisal" (MIT Press) by Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda. "This long-overdue history and philosophy of the 'environment' concept illuminates how biology thinks about one of its most fundamental ideas. A rewarding, eye-opening read for historians, philosophers, and scientists alike." --Tobias Uller, Professor of Evolutionary Biology, Lund University; coauthor of Evolution Evolving and Evolutionary Causation "A formidable achievement, massive in scope, meticulously researched, densely argued, and timely. Fábregas-Tejeda's book is the definitive work on the history of thinking about the complex relation between organism and environment." --Denis Walsh, Professor, University of Toronto; author of Organisms, Agency, and Evolution "Fábregas-Tejeda's discerning analysis brings much-needed conceptual clarity to the enigmatic yet essential subject of biology--the organism-environment relationship. A lively, engaging book that will inform practicing biologists as well as philosophers and historians of science." --Sonia E. Sultan, Alan M. Dachs Professor of Science, Wesleyan University; author of Organism and Environment "A tour de force of integrated history and philosophy of biology. With impressive breadth and conceptual clarity, this outstanding monograph reshapes how we think about organisms, environments, and their entanglements." --Daniel J. Nicholson, Assistant Professor, George Mason University; author of What Is Life? Revisited

I'm touched by the incredibly generous assessments that some of the first readers of "The Organism-Environment Pairing" (@mitpress.bsky.social) have offered! I'm excited to exchange ideas with everyone once the book is published in May! 📗
mitpress.mit.edu/978026205282... #HPbio #HPS #evosky #philsky

Screenshot showing the title and publication details of the article 'On the Prospects of Basal Cognition Research Becoming Fully Evolutionary: Promising Avenues and Cautionary Notes' by Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda and Matthew Sims, published in the journal 'History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences.'

Scientists are investigating putative cognitive capacities in non-neuronal organisms. But how evolutionarily grounded is this approach? @alejandrofabregastejeda.com & @philosobio.bsky.social evaluate basal cognition research in their 📃👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #evodevo #evosky #cogsci #HPS

Bee-hunting beetles are the first animals known to fake the smell of flowers Study of parasitic blister beetles reveals a new form of chemical deception

Exclusive: These bee-hunting beetles are the first animals known to fake the smell of flowers, according to a new study. https://scim.ag/49Bf8ho

Very happy to learn that I'll be attending the Cultural Evolutionary Society Conference next May in Rabat! Hope to see many friends and colleagues there, and chat about innovation in the Middle Paleolithic 😉 🪨

#CES2026

#philbio #paleosky #evosky

Our new paper (with @biotay.bsky.social) is out and on the cover story of @currentbiology.bsky.social !!!! Veronika, a Carinthian mountain cow flexibly uses a “multi-purpose tool” to scratch herself. A video and more information will follow in the comments.
www.cell.com/current-biol...

New on the Archive:

Dani, Gianmaria and Ramsey, Grant (2025) Tool Use Beyond Humans. Philosophy of Science, 92 (4). pp. 883-899. ISSN 1539-767X

https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/27952/

📱Is the origin of animals comparable to the origin of the smartphones? Yes! See our new review in @embojournal.org where we show how important it was the new "Operating System" (animalOS)for animals to evolve! with @ricardsole.bsky.social, Nick and Elena @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social @csic.es @prbb.org

Reminder 📢 We are advertising a postdoctoral position in #philbio or #philphysics to work on an interdisciplinary project that adopts the lens of self-organization & active matter to explore the boundary between living and nonliving systems👇 www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo... #philjobs #philsci #evosky

Book cover of “Health and Disease: Experimental Philosophy of Medicine” by Somogy Varga, Andrew James Latham, and Edouard Machery, in the Cambridge Elements: The Philosophy of Biology series. Against a black background, the title is surrounded by Ernst Haeckel’s illustrations of marine organisms—radial, symmetrical forms in vivid blues, oranges, reds, and greens.

New Element in the #PhilBio series by Varga, Latham & @edouardmachery.bsky.social—free to download until Jan 26! If you are looking for a nice introduction to experimental #philmedicine, with an overview of debates & challenges, this book is for you! www.cambridge.org/core/element... #philsky #HPS