Ecology, the Ascendent PerspectiveEcology, the Ascendent Perspective provides an entirely fresh view of the origins of organization in living systems. Writing for theoretical ecologists, biologists, and philosophers of science, Robert Ulanowicz mounts a powerful challenge to prevailing mechanistic paradigms of ecology. Ecology, Ulanowicz argues, needs a more robust central paradigm, and this book presents one derived from current work in information theory, ecosystem energetics, and complexity theory; the result is a theoretical and empirical tool kit better able to measure the developmental status of any living community. Ranging widely to explore critical issues in the history of science - order, causality, progress, laws - the book sets forth a coherent theoretical framework for ecology. A challenge to existing Newtonian and Darwinian paradigms, Ecology, the Ascendent Perspective demonstrates that a theoretically reshaped science of ecology, better suited to portraying the dynamics of the natural world, can be a more effective means of ensuring its health."--Jacket. |
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Contents
The Exceptional Science 1 | 1 |
Causality in the Age of Science | 11 |
The Emergence of Order | 36 |
Quantifying Growth and Development | 56 |
Extending Ascendency | 96 |
Other Members of the Elephant | 104 |
Practical Applications | 120 |
The Ascendent Worldview | 144 |
167 | |
179 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
activity agency amount appear applied approach ascendency autocatalytic become begin behavior biomass called capacity causality cause Chesapeake compartment complexity components concept configuration connections conservation consider continue contributions course defined describe direction dissipation dynamics ecologists ecology ecosystem effects efficient elements energy entirely entropy estimate example exchanges exists fall figure final flow follow forces formal function given growth happens heat human identify important increase indices individual inputs interactions less limits living magnitude material measure mechanical mutual nature Newton Newtonian nitrogen observation occur organization original overhead particular pathways perspective phenomena physical population positive possible principle probability processes propensities quantify question reason regard relative remain represent require result scale sense species structure suggested theory thermodynamics tion trophic turn Ulanowicz universe usually variables