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The Scientific Deciphering of Life: Autopoiesis and Feedback Loops
Zdenko ZEMAN
Sažetak
In the article some arguments for an affirmative answer to the
question whether science can come close to understanding the
nature of life are analysed. Commencing from the fact that life
in late modernity (and not only there) occurs in the shadow of
different threats, the author finds that in the centre of all this
uneasiness stands the fear for life itself (in the individual but also
in a derived, more general sense). Considering the
philosophical (and theological) precepts on this "issue", the
author also establishes a simple truth – that fear can truly be
overcome only as the awakening of love for life. Activating
biophilia could no doubt provide significant support to the well-
-known concept of "sustainable development". However, the love
of life could also become – although in a utopian perspective –
a "gravitational centre" of an "improved", axiologically and
ethically sensitised (post)modernity. Since in modern conditions
the arbitration of science cannot and should not be avoided with
regard to any issue, the author wonders how much science can
do in the sphere of advocating life. Analysing recent concepts of
the American scientist Fritjof Capra, i.e. some of the most
important precepts of his brave attempt towards a general
synthesis of the new scientific understanding of life on all levels
of living systems (from the 1990s), the author finds reason for
renewing faith in science – even when life is concerned. Clearly,
science can in this matter help only by understanding the nature
of life better. Science is here established as a symbol of a new,
environmental paradigm, which – in contrast to the centuries old
Cartesian division of the world (image) into the spiritual and
material – equally draws on the greatest achievements of
twentieth-century western science as well as on the abundant
non-western sources of knowledge.
Ključne riječi
Hrčak ID:
19490
URI
Datum izdavanja:
31.8.2003.
Posjeta: 1.475 *