Artefact

In experimental science, the expression ‘artifact’ is sometimes used to refer to experimental results which are not manifestations of the natural phenomena under investigation, but are due to the particular experimental arrangement, and hence indirectly to human agency.

1. On the Concept of Artifact

2. Artifact, Work, and the Ontology of Artifacts

3. Making Objects: Productive Action

4. Productive Intention

5. On the Characterization and Evaluation of Artifacts

6. Artworks

The article also introduces naturefacts as objects taken from their natural environment and used as tools or for some other purpose form a bridge between natural objects and artifacts. When a naturefact is modified to improve its usability for some purpose, it becomes a genuine artifact.

We can also speak of biofacts, a term introduced as a neologism by the German philosopher Nicole C. Karafyllis and fuses the words artifact and bios.

With the term biofact, Karafyllis wants to emphasize that living entities can be highly artificial due to methods deriving from agriculture, gardening (e.g. breeding) orbiotechnology (e.g. genetic engineering, cloning). Biofacts show signatures of culture and technique. Primarily, the concept aims to argue against the common philosophical tradition to summarize all kinds of living beings under the category nature.

The concept biofact questions if the phenomenon of growth is and was a secure candidate for differentiating between nature and technology. Karafyllis regards the inclusion of biofacts into a theory of techniques as a chance, to reformulate classic concepts of design and construction for defining the making of artifacts.

For the philosophy of nature, biofacts highlight a need to clarify if nature is self-explanatory in every case.

For the sociology of science the biofact concept is fruitful to discuss the exclusiveness of scientific knowledge (the role of the expert) while making scientific objects which are released into the lifeworld or public sphere. Particularly because the biofact concept deals with the phenomenon of growth and the establishing of a self, it is also influential in the philosophical disciplines phenomenology, anthropology and ontology. Jürgen Habermas stressed the anthropological consequences if mankind gives up the differentiation of "coming into being" and "making". (Ref, in German)

Artifacts are artificial, i.e. man-made objects. Contrary to biofacts, they cannot be found in nature. Therefore, biofacts demarcate an ontological intersection. They are partially man-made, but growing. Like artifacts, they have been made for a certain utility. Biofacts can be seen as biotic artifacts which show their character as hybrids in multifold perspectives.