De la biología compleja a la justicia social en Latinoamérica : diálogo interdisciplinario para los nuevos retos

In this chapter we explore how the interdisciplinary relationship between complex models in Biology and Anthropology contributes to the understanding of social phenomena. These phenomena are in themselves complex at different levels that include the cultural, the social, the body and the cells. In this sense, it is important to consider that the epigenetic environment affecting cells is not only limited the body but also includes its social environment. Our dialogue was framed by metaphors from the Sciences of Complexity, which we conceive as epistemological concepts and models to integrate the social into the biological phenomena. To explore this strategy we focus on the conditions of discrimination and racism that are part of the social injustice in Latin America. We combine scientific developments around two models, one biological, the epigenetic, and one socio-historic, the civilizatory co-evolution. So we consider the relationship between the biological and the social and cultural processes triggered by colonisation and their subsequent impacts until our days. Apart from the contribution provided by the integration of the two models to the understanding of the problems of social justice our chapter also shows the benefits of interdisciplinary dialogue between researchers in hard sciences and social sciences taking into account the complexity and also something very important mutual respect between researchers, its concepts and theories that have developed from their different disciplines. Through this integration we propose that the problems in Latin America, as it is the case of the unfair conditions of health and the impact of racism may be better understood and addressed if their study is based on the paradigms of complexity and interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers who share common goals for the benefit of society.