

Fritjof Capra on the systems view of physics, life and the mind | Living Mirrors #21
9 snips Oct 21, 2020
Fritjof Capra, a world-renowned physicist and author known for bridging science and spirituality, dives into a fascinating exploration of the systems view of life. He discusses how interconnectedness shapes both physics and biology, emphasizing the importance of holistic understanding. Capra shares insights on consciousness as an emergent property of interactions within living systems, and he reflects on the healing dynamics of self-organization in nature. The conversation also touches on his educational initiatives aimed at fostering systemic thinking for global challenges.
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Bateson's Critique
- Gregory Bateson wittily critiqued Fritjof Capra's early attempts to model life sciences after physics.
- Bateson jokingly remarked, "Capra, the man is crazy. He thinks we're all electrons."
Life as a Pattern
- Life's core characteristic is self-propagating patterns, not just the presence of DNA.
- Even dead organisms contain DNA; the key difference lies in the active process of metabolism.
Evolution's Drive
- Evolution is driven by life's inherent tendency towards novelty, not just environmental adaptation.
- Emergence, the spontaneous creation of new order, is central to development, learning, and evolution.