The Systems View of Life
A Unifying Vision

The first volume to integrate life's biological, cognitive, social, and ecological dimensions into a single, coherent framework.

Fritjof Capra (Author), Pier Luigi Luisi (Author)

9781316616437, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 4 August 2016

510 pages, 81 b/w illus.
24.7 x 17.5 x 2.3 cm, 0.99 kg

'What a fine, erudite, synoptic, lovely book!' Stuart Kauffman, University of Pennsylvania and the Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle

Over the past thirty years, a new systemic conception of life has emerged at the forefront of science. New emphasis has been given to complexity, networks, and patterns of organisation, leading to a novel kind of 'systemic' thinking. This volume integrates the ideas, models, and theories underlying the systems view of life into a single coherent framework. Taking a broad sweep through history and across scientific disciplines, the authors examine the appearance of key concepts such as autopoiesis, dissipative structures, social networks, and a systemic understanding of evolution. The implications of the systems view of life for health care, management, and our global ecological and economic crises are also discussed. Written primarily for undergraduates, it is also essential reading for graduate students and researchers interested in understanding the new systemic conception of life and its implications for a broad range of professions - from economics and politics to medicine, psychology and law.

Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction: paradigms in science and society
Part I. The Mechanistic World View: 1. The Newtonian world-machine
2. The mechanistic view of life
3. Mechanistic social thought
Part II. The Rise of Systems Thinking: 4. From the parts to the whole
5. Classical systems theories
6. Complexity theory
Part III. A New Conception of Life: 7. What is life?
8. Order and complexity in the living world
9. Darwin and biological evolution
10. The quest for the origin of life on Earth
11. The human adventure
12. Mind and consciousness
13. Science and spirituality
14. Life, mind, and society
15. The systems view of health
Part IV. Sustaining the Web of Life: 16. The ecological dimension of life
17. Connecting the dots: systems thinking and the state of the world
18. Systemic solutions
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Systems analysis & design [UYD], Applied ecology [RNC], Evolution [PSAJ], Biology, life sciences [PS], Philosophy of science [PDA], Economic theory & philosophy [KCA], Political science & theory [JPA], Cognitivism, cognitive theory [JMAQ], Society & social sciences [J]