2. Let’s explore where different systems of belief claim that Life emerged from. As you’ll
remember from the “Story of the Universe” chapter, there are many cultural and
creation myths around this emergence. For simplicity’s sake, we’re going to focus on
the two most prevalent of our time: Science & Organized Religion.
What is Life???
3. In a gross generalization, the reductionistic scientific viewpoint claims that inert
molecules joined together into proteins and Life emerged out of their symbiotic
functioning. (it’s estimated to be somewhere between a 10
390 - 10
40 chance. aka: hugely
improbable, but technically not impossible.) Religion, in another gross generalization,
claims that an outside Creator-Being created the Kosmos and Life on Earth.
What is Life???
Let’s explore where different systems of belief claim that Life emerged from. As you’ll
remember from the “Story of the Universe” chapter, there are many cultural and
creation myths around this emergence. For simplicity’s sake, we’re going to focus on
the two most prevalent of our time: Science & Organized Religion.
4. In a gross generalization, the reductionistic scientific viewpoint claims that inert
molecules joined together into proteins and Life emerged out of their symbiotic
functioning. (it’s estimated to be somewhere between a 10
390 - 10
40 chance. aka: hugely
improbable, but technically not impossible.) Religion, in another gross generalization,
claims that an outside Creator-Being created the Kosmos and Life on Earth.
In either case, we don’t claim to know, or think we’ll ever fully know. Both hypotheses
(and many others) are possibilities!!! As we stated in reference to the beginning of the
Universe: basking in the Mystery, and the resultant wonder, awe, humility, and
gratitude is likely the most serving place we could come from in relation to this!
What is Life???
Let’s explore where different systems of belief claim that Life emerged from. As you’ll
remember from the “Story of the Universe” chapter, there are many cultural and
creation myths around this emergence. For simplicity’s sake, we’re going to focus on
the two most prevalent of our time: Science & Organized Religion.
5. What is Life???
In either case, we don’t claim to know, or think we’ll ever fully know. Both hypotheses
(and many others) are possibilities!!! As we stated in reference to the beginning of the
Universe: basking in the Mystery, and the resultant wonder, awe, humility, and
gratitude is likely the most serving place we could come from in relation to this!
That being said, we CAN observe the principles through which Life is carrying
itself out! We CAN begin to define Life’s Patterns without knowing it’s origins:
In a gross generalization, the reductionistic scientific viewpoint claims that inert
molecules joined together into proteins and Life emerged out of their symbiotic
functioning. (it’s estimated to be somewhere between a 10
390 - 10
40 chance. aka: hugely
improbable, but technically not impossible.) Religion, in another gross generalization,
claims that an outside Creator-Being created the Kosmos and Life on Earth.
Let’s explore where different systems of belief claim that Life emerged from. As you’ll
remember from the “Story of the Universe” chapter, there are many cultural and
creation myths around this emergence. For simplicity’s sake, we’re going to focus on
the two most prevalent of our time: Science & Organized Religion.
6. Fritjof Capra, in his new book “The Systems View Of Life,”ascertains that:
!
!
“It is a common understanding that it is impossible to provide a scientific definition of
life which is universally accepted. This stems from the fact that the background of
scientists dealing with the question – biologists, chemists, computer scientists,
philosophers, astrobiologists, engineers, theologians, social scientists, ecologists (just
to cite a few) – differs considerably from one another, depending on one's conceptual
framework. In this book, we will not dwell so much on the question of a unique
definition of life – a single sentence catching all the various aspects of life – but rather,
we will consider the more general question: what are the essential characteristics of a
living system?”
7. Fritjof Capra, in his new book “The Systems View Of Life,”ascertains that:
!
!
“It is a common understanding that it is impossible to provide a scientific definition of
life which is universally accepted. This stems from the fact that the background of
scientists dealing with the question – biologists, chemists, computer scientists,
philosophers, astrobiologists, engineers, theologians, social scientists, ecologists (just
to cite a few) – differs considerably from one another, depending on one's conceptual
framework. In this book, we will not dwell so much on the question of a unique
definition of life – a single sentence catching all the various aspects of life – but rather,
we will consider the more general question: what are the essential characteristics of a
living system?”
The rest of this chapter will approach Life from these “essential
characteristics,” formatted as a series of 10 ‘Life Lessons’…
24. Ken Wilber, integral philosopher, describes a holon as:
“An entity that is itself a whole, and simultaneously a part of some other
whole. If you start to look closely at all things and processes that exist, it
soon becomes obvious that they aren’t merely wholes, but are also parts
of something else. They are whole/parts. They’re “holons.” For instance,
a whole atom is part of a whole molecule, and a whole molecule is part of
a whole cell, and the whole cell is part of the whole organism, and so on.
There’s a 2,000 year old philosophical squabble between atomists and
wholists [Spirit vs Matter / Science vs Religion]: ‘Which is ultimately real,
the whole or the part?’ And the answer is neither. Or both, if you prefer.
There are only whole/parts.” !
-paraphrased.!
!
25. Whoa.
Ken Wilber, integral philosopher, describes a holon as:
“An entity that is itself a whole, and simultaneously a part of some other
whole. If you start to look closely at all things and processes that exist, it
soon becomes obvious that they aren’t merely wholes, but are also parts
of something else. They are whole/parts. They’re “holons.” For instance,
a whole atom is part of a whole molecule, and a whole molecule is part of
a whole cell, and the whole cell is part of the whole organism, and so on.
There’s a 2,000 year old philosophical squabble between atomists and
wholists [Spirit vs Matter / Science vs Religion]: ‘Which is ultimately real,
the whole or the part?’ And the answer is neither. Or both, if you prefer.
There are only whole/parts.” !
!
!
30. All of these examples (and every other thing you can
possibly imagine) are Holons.
http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2013/321/c/2/flower_of_life_by_janrobbe-d6t596d.png
31. All of these examples (and every other thing you can
possibly imagine) are Holons.
http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2013/321/c/2/flower_of_life_by_janrobbe-d6t596d.png
Both individual wholes AND parts of greater wholes.
32. Pretty wild, eh?
All of these examples (and every other thing you can
possibly imagine) are Holons.
Both individual wholes AND parts of greater wholes.
