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Why microbes, not microbiomes, are better causal explanations in gut-brain research

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 July 2019

Kate E. Lynch Open the ORCID record for Kate E. Lynch[Opens in a new window]
Kate E. Lynch*
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia. kateemmalynch@gmail.comwww.katelynch.net
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Abstract

Much microbiota-gut-brain research focuses on the causal role of microbiomes as a whole, rather than their component parts: microbes. Hooks et al. find these whole-community explanations inadequate; however, they do not provide suggestions for better explanations. By appealing to proportionality – a criterion that can be used to develop more appropriate causal explanations – more accurate causal claims can be made.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 42 , 2019 , e76
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019 

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