The Systems View of Life: A Unifying Vision
Abstract
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.
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There is a collective disconnection from Mother Earth, and we must reconnect to her to truly understand the 'systemic nature' of life on this planet.
“The Elders and Peter each spoke about our collective disconnection from Mother Earth and how we must reconnect to her to truly understand the 'systemic nature' (Capra & Luisi, 2014) of life on this planet.”
From Relational Systems Thinking: That's How Change is Going to Come, From Our Earth Mother (2021) · cites this paper as Capra & Luisi, 2014
The systems view of life is an ecological view that is grounded, ultimately, in spiritual awareness.
“What is significant in this definition is a recognition that the systems view of life is an ecological view 'that is grounded, ultimately, in spiritual awareness' (p. 70).”
From Relational Systems Thinking: That's How Change is Going to Come, From Our Earth Mother (2021) · cites this paper as Capra & Luisi, 2014
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- Authors
- Capra, F., & Luisi, P. L.
- Affiliations
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (US)
- Roma Tre University (IT)
- Venue
- Cambridge University Press eBooks
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Published
- 2014-04-05
- OpenAlex
- W654350894
- Cited by
- 1,347
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 161 · 2025: 137 · 2024: 96 · 2023: 89 · 2022: 126 · 2021: 169 · 2020: 147 · 2019: 115 · 2018: 111 · 2017: 86 · 2016: 62 · 2015: 35 · 2014: 6
- FWCI
- 20.55
- Type
- book
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cambridge University Press eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › Complex Systems and Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy and History of Science
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computational Theory and Mathematics › Chaos, Complexity, and Education
- Keywords
- complexity, networks, autopoiesis, dissipative structures, social networks, system evolution, history of systems theory, health care, management, environmental crisis, economic crisis
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