About Stuart Kauffman

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Comment by Jenny Nielsen on October 7, 2008 at 6:43pm

I've been thinking lately that science has been considered the dominant way of finding the truth in the modern era, and that even though it's one method, it's not THE method, because so far it can't say anything about the hard problem of consciousness (qualia of experience) and that's a substantial part of what being human is about.

Also, there is a good deal of art to science--a great deal of approximations are made in every scientific model, and they have to be there--just as in a poem about a tree, we don't necessarily describe every scratch in every inch of bark. Math is a language, and physics is complex analytical poetry.

Anyway, I'm just rambling, but I'm excited that there are people looking at the relation between science and the humanities without trying to strike down either side, and also people who are looking at the order coming out of the chaos in things. The chaos is more of a cooking pot in a way than anything else.

Order Out of Chaos by Ilya Prigogine is another great read on this area for those who are a bit mathy.

Comment by Philippe Charas on September 12, 2008 at 9:51pm

Stuart Kauffmans book is of immense importance. It is part of a new movement that sees spirituality and science within a common framework of mans consciousness emanating from the whole and not from the parts. The road to real change and to a sustainable and just society goes via this insight and it needs to be worked on and communicated.