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Life Itself: A Comprehensive Inquiry Into the Nature, Origin, and Fabrication of
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Life Itself: A Comprehensive Inquiry Into the Nature, Origin, and Fabrication of Life Hardback - 1991

by Robert Rosen

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Reader reviews for Life Itself: A Comprehensive Inquiry Into the Nature, Origin, and Fabrication of Life

From the publisher

Why are living things alive? As a theoretical biologist, Robert Rosen saw this as the most fundamental of all questions-and yet it had never been answered satisfactorily by science. The answers to this question would allow humanity to make an enormous leap forward in our understanding of the principles at work in our world.

For centuries, it was believed that the only scientific approach to the question "What is life?" must proceed from the Cartesian metaphor (organism as machine). Classical approaches in science, which also borrow heavily from Newtonian mechanics, are based on a process called "reductionism." The thinking was that we can better learn about an intricate, complicated system (like an organism) if we take it apart, study the components, and then reconstruct the system-thereby gaining an understanding of the whole.

However, Rosen argues that reductionism does not work in biology and ignores the complexity of organisms. Life Itself, a landmark work, represents the scientific and intellectual journey that led Rosen to question reductionism and develop new scientific approaches to understanding the nature of life. Ultimately, Rosen proposes an answer to the original question about the causal basis of life in organisms. He asserts that renouncing the mechanistic and reductionistic paradigm does not mean abandoning science. Instead, Rosen offers an alternate paradigm for science that takes into account the relational impacts of organization in natural systems and is based on organized matter rather than on particulate matter alone.

Central to Rosen's work is the idea of a "complex system," defined as any system that cannot be fully understood by reducing it to its parts. In this sense, complexity refers to the causal impact of organization on the system as a whole. Since both the atom and the organism can be seen to fit that description, Rosen asserts that complex organization is a general feature not just of the biosphere on Earth-but of the universe itself.

Details

  • Title Life Itself: A Comprehensive Inquiry Into the Nature, Origin, and Fabrication of Life
  • Author Robert Rosen
  • Binding Hardback
  • Edition First Edition
  • Pages 285
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Columbia University Press, U.S.A.
  • Publication date 1991-10-14
  • Illustrated Yes
  • Features Illustrated, Index
  • ISBN 9780231075640 / 0231075642
  • Weight 1.38 lbs (0.63 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.31 x 6.37 x 1.02 in (23.65 x 16.18 x 2.59 cm)
  • Age range 22 to UP years
  • Grade levels 17 - UP
  • Themes
    • Topical: Ecology
  • Category Science
  • Library of Congress subjects Life (Biology), Biology - Philosophy
  • Library of Congress Catalogue Number 91003110
  • Dewey Decimal Code 574

About the author

Dr. Robert Rosen (1934-1998) was a prominent theorist in the areas of biology and biophysics and taught and conducted research at various universities for over three decades. He was the author of thirteen books, including Anticipatory Systems; Fundamentals of Measurement and Representation of Natural Systems; Rosennean Complexity; and The Limits of the Limits of Science.

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Life Itself: A Comprehensive Inquiry Into the Nature, Origin, and Fabrication of Life
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Life Itself: A Comprehensive Inquiry Into the Nature, Origin, and Fabrication of Life

by Rosen, Robert

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  • Hardback
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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780231075640 / 0231075642
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Columbia University Press, 1991. Hardcover. Like New. Pages are clean and are not marred by notes or folds of any kind. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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Life Itself: A Comprehensive Inquiry Into the Nature, Origin, and Fabrication of Life
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Life Itself: A Comprehensive Inquiry Into the Nature, Origin, and Fabrication of Life

by Rosen, Robert

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  • Hardback
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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780231075640 / 0231075642
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Columbia University Press, 1991. Hardcover. Acceptable. Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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Life Itself
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Life Itself

by Rosen, Robert

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  • Hardback
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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780231075640 / 0231075642
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Columbia University Press, 1991-04-15. Illustrated. hardcover. Used: Good. 6.37x1.02x9.31. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
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Complexity in Ecological Systems: Life Itself: A Comprehensive Inquiry Into the Nature Origin and...
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Complexity in Ecological Systems: Life Itself: A Comprehensive Inquiry Into the Nature Origin and Fabrication of Life

by Rosen, R.

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Columbia University Press, 1991. This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside.This book has hardback covers. In good all round condition. Dust jacket in good condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item,750grams, ISBN:0231075642
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Life Itself
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Life Itself

by Rosen, Robert

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780231075640 / 0231075642
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Columbia University Press. Used - Very Good. Very Good condition. Very Good dust jacket. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner’s name, short gifter’s inscription or light stamp.
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Life Itself
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Life Itself

by Rosen, Robert

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780231075640 / 0231075642
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Life Itself
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Life Itself

by Rosen, Robert

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780231075640 / 0231075642
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hardcover. Good. Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items. May be an ex-library book.
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Life Itself
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Life Itself

by Rosen, Robert

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
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Columbia University Press, 1991-04-15. Illustrated. hardcover. New. 6.37x1.02x9.31. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
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Life Itself
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Life Itself

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Life Itself
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Life Itself

by Rosen, Robert,

  • Used
Condition
New
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780231075640 / 0231075642
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5
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Item price
A$202.57
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