Mind and Nature: A Necessary UnityDutton, 1979 - 238 pagina's "This is the major life's work of one of the great thinkers of our time. Gregory Bateson's contributions to anthropology, biology, psychiatry, and other social sciences have won him international fame. Here he does no less than provide a new way of thinking about the world around us. We must, he says, learn to 'think as Nature thinks,' if we are to learn to live in harmony on the planet. And insofar as 'we are a mental process, to that same extent we must expect the natural world to show similar characteristics of mentality.' Thus the startling theme of this book is that biological evolution is a mental process. Occidental quantitative thinking (the kind of thought that too often results in the philosophy of 'bigger is better') is actually unnatural, or contrary to the natural order; we must move away from this thinking and begin to delve deeply into the actual patterns of the world around us. Around these themes Bateson has woven one of the most fascinating, challenging, and truly important discussions yet published on the human condition. A brilliant teacher, Bateson has filled his book with intriguing examples from the world of nature he knows so well. A crab's claw becomes a lesson in Nature's symmetry, an elephant's trunk a clue to the roles that context and function play in the natural order. What pattern, asks Bateson, connects the crab to the lobster and the orchid to the primrose--and all the four of them to me? Indeed, this book is a lively exploration of the pattern that connects all the living beings of our planet."--front flap. |
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Pagina 64
... thought . In Chapter 3 I shall continue to sketch in the background of my thesis with a listing of generalities or presuppositions . I shall , however , come closer to the central problems of thought and evolution , trying to give ...
... thought . In Chapter 3 I shall continue to sketch in the background of my thesis with a listing of generalities or presuppositions . I shall , however , come closer to the central problems of thought and evolution , trying to give ...
Pagina 87
... thought , adapta- tion , embryology , and genetics — the science of mind in the widest sense of the word . * The comparing of these phenomena ( comparing thought with evolution and epigenesis with both ) is the manner of search of the ...
... thought , adapta- tion , embryology , and genetics — the science of mind in the widest sense of the word . * The comparing of these phenomena ( comparing thought with evolution and epigenesis with both ) is the manner of search of the ...
Pagina 182
... thought with , the double stochastic system of biological evolution . Is thought also charac- terized by such a double system ? ( If not , then the whole structure of this book is suspect . ) First it is important to note that what , in ...
... thought with , the double stochastic system of biological evolution . Is thought also charac- terized by such a double system ? ( If not , then the whole structure of this book is suspect . ) First it is important to note that what , in ...
Inhoudsopgave
Every Schoolboy Knows | 23 |
Multiple Versions of the World | 65 |
Criteria of Mental Process | 89 |
Copyright | |
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abstract action aggregate animal become behavior bilateral symmetry binocular vision biological bithorax calibration called Chapter characteristics circuit coding combined complex components consciousness context contrast crab creature criteria DAUGHTER differentiation embryology energy environment epigenesis epistemology evolution evolutionary example experience explanation fact FATHER gametes genes genetic change Gregory Bateson hierarchy homology human Iatmul ideas individual interaction internal Lamarck Lamarckian learning logical typing look matter mental process messages midwife toad mind natural selection necessary negentropy nuptial pads odd numbers partly pathways pattern which connects perception perhaps phenomena phenotype pieces precisely predict presuppositions problem propositions quantity question random relations relationship relevance schismogenesis SCHOOLBOY KNOWS sea anemone self-corrective sense organ sequence side simple somatic change sort species step stochastic processes stochastic system surely switch symmetry tautology temperature theory things thought tion variable whole words