From Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia.
In
chemistry, antagonism
is a phenomenon where two or more
agents in combination have an
overall effect which is less than
the sum of their individual
effects. The word is most commonly
used in this fashion in
biochemistry and
toxicology. Interference in
the physiological action of a
chemical substance by another
having a similar structure.
For instance, a
receptor antagonist is an
agent that reduces the response
that a
ligand produces when it binds
to a
receptor on a
cell. An example of this is
the
interleukin-1 receptor
antagonist.
The opposite of antagonism is
synergy.
In
philosophy, 'antagonism
refers to a principle, force or
factor that is an active
resistance, opposition, or
contentiousness. For instance,
capitalism and
socialism can be considered to
be inherent antagonists. Some
refer
agonism (Lyotard, 1975) as the
opposite to.
