Quantum mechanics replaced Newtonian mechanics, and was in turn replaced by Quantum Field theory. There also exist many highly successful models in biology. A beautiful example is logic and computation theory which are models of thought, a truly complex biological phenomenon. While people are not logical the power of these models is amply illustrated by the computer. Horgan suggests there can be no theory to describe it.
Any fundamental theory describes a large diversity.
It is only after a theory is written that it is found to describe a unified set of phenomena. Horgan singled out the subfield of Artificial life for criticism. Knowing about what is possible is often better than knowing what exists. If we want to design useful systems, existing biological organisms may not be the most practical route. Machines are built using natural principles, but they do not reproduce nature.