0267 Of course, from this examiner’s point of view, Tabaczek’s persuasive impact would be radically improved if he realized that Peirce’s philosophy may be regarded as a postmodern branch of Thomism.  Peirce offers a neo-Aristotelian terminology. Aristotle’s hylomorphe exemplifies Peirce’s category of secondness.  Aristotle’s four causes integrate the category-based nested form.  Category-based nested forms offer a way to portray emergence.  As such, Aristotle’s causes are integral to describing the relationship between the thermodynamic, homeodynamic and morphodynamic levels in Deacon’s interscope.

0268 The specific example of cellular respiration satisfies Deacon’s general account of emergence.  The causality represented by the above interscope is described by Peirce’s concept of precission.  Precission describes how one category emerges from and orders the adjacent lower category.  Precission exhibits the logics of both “downward causation” and “dynamical depth”.  The situation level virtually emerges from (and situates) the content level.  The perspective level arises from (and contextualizes) the situation level.

0269 In terms of Aristotle’s causes, the situation level is what needs to be understood in material terms.  Notably, in Deacon’s schema, the situation level adjusts the thermodynamic level.

At the same time, the virtual nested form in the category of secondness offers a different view of material causation for this emergent. 

0270 The normal context of building biomolecules and moving cellular components_2c virtually brings the actuality of the high-energy molecule ATP_2b into relation with the potential of the mitochondria-facilitated Krebs cycle and electron transport chain_2a (which is the way that mitochondria “burn” glucose and oxygen_2a).  The word, “combustion”_2a becomes a metaphor for what mitochondria_3b are really doing_2b.  They_3b are containing and capturing some of the free energy_2breleased by a spontaneous chemical reaction_2a.

0271 Perspective-level formal causality fleshes out situation-level material causality.  The perspective level virtually puts the situation level into context.  The perspective level formalizes the situation level.

In particular, the actuality of ATP_2b is a formal requirement for the potential of staying alive_1b.  ATP_2b is the molecule of choice, because of its capacity to power proteins to move cellular components and to build biomolecules_2c in the normal context of the living eukaryotic cell of a multicellular organism_3c. 

At the same time, the virtual nested form in the realm of thirdness (pictured below) formalizes the virtual nested form in the realm of secondness (pictured above).

0272 Now, I present one long sentence.

The normal context of the living cell_3c virtually bringing the actuality of mitochondria_3b into relation with the potential of an adjusted orthograde reaction_3a formalizes the normal context of moving cellular components and building biomolecules_2c virtually bringing ATP_2b into relation with the mitochondrial use of glucose and oxygen_2a.

0273 In terms of Aristotle’s causes, the way that the situation level virtually emerges from (and situates) the content level dovetails into instrumental and efficient causalities.  The question may be asked, “How do mitochondria_3b work_1b?”  They_3b work by exploiting a spontaneous chemical reaction_3a that relies on the chemistry of glucose and oxygen_1a.  How they_3b accomplish the task_2a is solved by very clever laboratory work.

When thinking of efficient causality, must not ignore the virtual nested form in the category of firstness.

This virtual nested form is a launching point for the instrumental causalities that are inherent in the virtual nested form in secondness.  The chemical dispositions of glucose and oxygen_1a are exploited in the mitochondrial “combustion” of glucose and oxygen_2a.  The Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain_1b produce ATP_2b.  ATP_1c powers transport proteins and synthetic pathways_2c.

0274 What is missing is the way that final causality complements these efficient causes.

Final causes are ignored in scientific research.  Why?  The positivist intellect does not permit metaphysics.

Formal causes are banned as well.  But, I suspect that formal causes can slip in, as shadowy figures, under the umbrella of material causes.

Final causes have a little more difficulty infiltrating efficient causes.  The above figure demonstrates why.  It is not obvious how the virtual nested form in firstness implicates the virtual nested form in thirdness.

0275 Or is it?

To me, the term, “teleodynamic” is an appropriate label for the following juxtaposition.

0276 While this application of Deacon’s formula for emergence does not cover all the bases in section 2.4, it demonstrates that Tabaczek, the metaphysician, is able to visualize an image in the mirror of science that roughly corresponds to what agents of science would be proud to own.