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.

What is Life???

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 10390 - 1040 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.

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 10390 - 1040 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.

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 10390 - 1040 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.

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?”

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’…

Any questions before we begin class? ; )

Life Lessons #1 & 2:

You’re a holon. Life Lessons #1 & 2:

You’re a holon. Life Lessons #1 & 2:

(and no, that’s not an insult ; )

You’re a holon.

I’m a holon too.

Life Lessons #1 & 2:

(and no, that’s not an insult ; )

You’re a holon.

I’m a holon too.

Life Lessons #1 & 2:

(and no, that’s not an insult ; )

(both a part, and a whole).

In fact we’re ALL holons… Every living system in the Universe is both a part and a whole:

!!!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Misc_pollen.jpg

Atoms

In fact we’re ALL holons… Every living system in the Universe is both a part and a whole:

!!!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Misc_pollen.jpg

www.superbwallpapers.com/3d/molecules-17302/

Atoms

Molecules

In fact we’re ALL holons… Every living system in the Universe is both a part and a whole:

!!!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Misc_pollen.jpg

www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2011/10/18/Embryonic_stem_cells.jpg

www.superbwallpapers.com/3d/molecules-17302/

Atoms

Molecules

Cells

In fact we’re ALL holons… Every living system in the Universe is both a part and a whole:

!!!

grandaspirations.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/growing-plant.jpg

Plants

grandaspirations.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/growing-plant.jpg

clickhdwallpapers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/elephants-hd-widescreen-wallpapers.jpg

Plants

Animals

grandaspirations.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/growing-plant.jpg

clickhdwallpapers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/elephants-hd-widescreen-wallpapers.jpg

0.static.wix.com/media/0fe51c_46ebc97270d11059057d57b8782eec17.jpg_1024

Plants

Animals

Ecosystems

Even the planet itself is a holon!

Even the planet itself is a holon!

What exactly IS this “Holon” thing again???

Ken Wilber, integral philosopher, describes a holon as:

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.!!

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.” ! ! !!

the cell & the human

the bee & the beehive

the tree and the forest

the individual & the organization

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

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.

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.