Allen & Hoekstra, Toward a Unified Ecology
p. 164} James Miller’s
“living systems theory”
A “process
organized approach which identifies the critical things that need to be
done.”
Emergent qualities or properties are those observed characteristics that cannot be predicted from the existing level of analysis. What this emergent property means, for example, is that the behavior of atoms would in no particular causal sense lead one to understand the existence of cells or organs and their functional capacities, even though atoms comprise cells and cells are the building blocks of organs and entire organ systems such as the cardiovascular system.
Irreducible characteristics that arise –nonetheless– out of an existing arrangement of functioning parts. A vague assertion in that by knowing the anatomy and physiology of one entity such as the central nervous system one is not able to discern the capacity of that system for creating thoughts. Similarly by knowing the anatomy of the throat, larynx, tongue, and neck musculature one cannot predict the existence of speech, language, or aural to oral communication.
See: "Emergent Properties" Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy; Stanford University.
"For example, Ilya Prigogine, of the Center for Complex Quantum Systems at the University of Texas, Austin, has studied emergent properties, suggesting that they offer analogues for living systems. The theories of autopoiesis of Francisco Varela and Humberto Maturana are a further development in this field."
Any organism’s
emergent properties:
***
related
quantitative contexts
scale
& density
genetic
drift & chance
flow
diagrams
timing
& feedback
rates of
change
doubling
time
half life
* * *
Comparison of output problem:
250 mw reactor can supply the electrical needs of 300,000 persons / 35-40 years.
- A 16 megawatt biomass power plant runs on forest residues in Whitefield, N. H.
-
How many people will the NH plant serve?
{answer:
since 1 mw serves 1200 people 19,200 people are serviced by the biomass plant.}
