A Third Window: Natural Life Beyond Newton and DarwinTempleton Press, 2009 - 196 Thus far, the dominant paradigms through which modern scientists have viewed nature have been structured primarily around Newtonian and Darwinian approaches. As theoretical ecologist Robert E. Ulanowicz observes in his new work, A Third Window, neither of these models is sufficient for explaining how real change—in the form of creative advance or emergence—takes place in nature. The metaphysical foundations laid by these great thinkers centuries ago are ill suited to sustain today's search for a comprehensive description of complex living systems. Ecosystem dynamics, for example, violate each and every one of the Newtonian presuppositions. Hence, Ulanowicz offers his titular "third window"—a new way of understanding evolution and other natural processes beyond the common mechanistic or materialistic philosophies of nature.Drawing on the writings of Walter Elsasser, Karl Popper, Gregory Bateson, Robert Rosen, and Alfred North Whitehead, as well as his own experience as a theoretical ecologist, Ulanowicz offers a new set of axioms for how nature behaves. Chance and disarray in natural processes are shown to be necessary conditions for real change. Randomness is shown to contribute richness and autonomy to the natural world. The metaphysical implications of these new axioms will lend A Third Window a wide appeal not only among scientists, but also among philosophers, theologians, and general readers who follow the science and religion dialogue. Ulanowicz's fresh perspective adds a new voice to the discussion. |
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... effect of alligators eating turtles is beneficial to the craw- fish because it reduces the amount of crawfish lost to turtles . In quantitative terms ( Ulanowicz and Puccia 1990 ) , the cumula- tive indirect effect that alligators have ...
... effect of alligators eating turtles is beneficial to the craw- fish because it reduces the amount of crawfish lost to turtles . In quantitative terms ( Ulanowicz and Puccia 1990 ) , the cumula- tive indirect effect that alligators have ...
Strona 78
... effect of autocatalysis is to strengthen the " fabric of causality ” and make it less flexible in the process . The overall trend is for the constraints in processes to start out weak and arbitrary , yielding outcomes that differ only ...
... effect of autocatalysis is to strengthen the " fabric of causality ” and make it less flexible in the process . The overall trend is for the constraints in processes to start out weak and arbitrary , yielding outcomes that differ only ...
Strona 105
... effects of autocatalysis within a hypothetical 4 - component system . ( a ) An inchoate network of flows . ( b ) The ... effect deals only with the relative sizes of the transfers and is thereby qualitative or independent of the system ...
... effects of autocatalysis within a hypothetical 4 - component system . ( a ) An inchoate network of flows . ( b ) The ... effect deals only with the relative sizes of the transfers and is thereby qualitative or independent of the system ...
Spis treści
Introduction | 1 |
How Can Things Truly Change? | 40 |
How Can Things Persist? | 57 |
Prawa autorskie | |
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activity agency aleatoric appear assumptions atomism autocatalysis balls Bateson becomes behavior belief biology biosphere calculated causal causes centripetality chance events chapter closure coherent compartment complex chance conditional entropy configurations of processes constraints Darwin Darwinian digraphs dynamics ecological metaphysic ecologists ecosystem effect elements Elsasser Elsasser's emergence Eugene Odum evolution evolutionary example existence feedback Figure flow networks flows fundamental genes genome Gregory Bateson heterogeneous increasing ascendency indeterminacy information theory interactions living systems magnitudes material mathematical matter mechanical metaphysic methodological naturalism molecules muscadine mutual narrative nature Newton Newtonian Newtonian worldview notion Odum outcome particles pathways periphyton perspective phenomena physical physicists Popper possible postulate preadaptations process ecology propensities quantify quantum radical rational reader realm reductionism remain result role Rutledge scenario scientific selection simple structure suggested swim bladders theists thermodynamics third window tion tive transcendental Ulanowicz 1986 Utricularia Walter Elsasser weighted digraphs wicz zooplankton