How to balance conceptual unity and plurality: the case of the individualized niche concept

Abstract Many philosophical discussions about biological concepts have focused on arguments for conceptual pluralism or monism, an approach that threatens to obscure the nuances of conceptual structure. We characterize the structure of the individualized niche concept based on the results of a qualitative empirical study we conducted within an interdisciplinary, mainly biological research center. Our findings show that this biological concept balances the aims of conceptual unity and plurality through exhibiting a structure of a single core concept that permits several distinct conceptions. We conclude from our case study that some scientific concepts have complex structures that might be overlooked when only focusing on disputing about monism and pluralism. We also recommend that the plurality of conceptions of the individualized niche concept be retained because each of the conceptions has potential benefits, and because the conceptual structure is sufficiently unified to support the aims of the research center.