Call yourself an organicist?

A Listmania! list by John McCrone
 
Web of Life: A New Synthesis of Mind and Matter
1.  Web of Life: A New Synthesis of Mind and Matter by Fritjof Capra
The list author says:
  "A good place to start. A history of organic ways of thinking about Reality. Hardly complete, but hardly puts a foot wrong either. All Capra's books are worth a read. Heaviness rating - 1"
£6.99   Used & New from: £3.81
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

Going Inside
2.  Going Inside by John McCrone
The list author says:
  "I may as well plug my own books. This is about how the brain works - an illustration of the principles of organicism rather than a description of organicism as a view of Reality. Heaviness rating - 3"
£8.99   Used & New from: £0.01
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

Hierarchy Theory; The Challenge of Complex Systems.
3.  Hierarchy Theory; The Challenge of Complex Systems. by Howard Hunt Pattee
The list author says:
  "I love this book - so cheap as well. Hierarchy theory is the natural heart of organicism. Heaviness rating - 2"
Used & New from: £45.00

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Development and Evolution: Complexity and Change in Biology
4.  Development and Evolution: Complexity and Change in Biology by Stanley N Salthe
The list author says:
  "Expensive and a dense read. Yet Salthe goes deeper than anyone on hierarchy theory. For the initiated. Heaviness rating - 5"
£42.70   Used & New from: £12.57

Evolving Hierarchical Systems: Their Structure and Representation
5.  Evolving Hierarchical Systems: Their Structure and Representation by S N Salthe
The list author says:
  "Even more expensive. But again important if you have serious intentions. Heaviness rating - 5"
£76.95   Used & New from: £35.09

Selected Writings
6.  Selected Writings by Charles S. Peirce
The list author says:
  "Peirce deals with semiosis - an essential and often missing element in the organic way of thinking. How do minds create meanings? A old time philosopher back in vogue.  Heaviness rating - 5."
£15.29   Used & New from: £2.30
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

The Tree of Knowledge: The Biological Roots of Human Understanding
7.  The Tree of Knowledge: The Biological Roots of Human Understanding by Humberto Maturana Rumesin
The list author says:
  "A familiar classic, this Chilean duo show how both life and mind are cognitive systems - systems formed by adaptation or the act of coming to know.  Heaviness rating - 4"
£24.65   Used & New from: £9.77
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

Essays on Life Itself (Complexity in Ecological Systems)
8.  Essays on Life Itself (Complexity in Ecological Systems) by Robert Rosen
The list author says:
  "A particular favourite because of its spirited attack on the conceits of reductionism. Rosen offers an accurate diagnosis. But you have to look elsewhere for the cure. Heaviness rating - 3"
£22.10   Used & New from: £17.59
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

What is Life?: With Mind and Matter and Autobiographical Sketches (Canto)
9.  What is Life?: With Mind and Matter and Autobiographical Sketches (Canto) by Roger Penrose
The list author says:
  "A classic polemic against reductionism. And not as dated as you might think. Heaviness rating - 1"
Used & New from: £6.15
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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General System Theory: Foundations, Development, Applications
10.  General System Theory: Foundations, Development, Applications by Ludwig Von Bertalanffy
The list author says:
  "This is a classic. But truth be told, it is a little dull. It makes the case that organicism is different but does not take you far down the road. Heaviness rating - 2"
£9.95   Used & New from: £8.00
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid (20th anniversary edition with a new preface by the author)
11.  Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid (20th anniversary edition with a new preface by the author) by Douglas R Hofstadter
The list author says:
  "A classic of a different sort - a whimsical discussion of some issues foundational to organicism. Not really to my taste but it has made many people think. Heaviness rating - 1"
£12.34   Used & New from: £4.96
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)

Process and Reality (Gifford lectures)
12.  Process and Reality (Gifford lectures) by Alfred North Whitehead
The list author says:
  "Heavy duty organicism. Another philosopher who made things difficult by inventing so much of his own jargon. But still an essential classic. Heaviness rating - 4"
£13.95   Used & New from: £8.43
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

Dynamic Patterns: The Self-Organization of Brain and Behavior (Complex Adaptive Systems)
13.  Dynamic Patterns: The Self-Organization of Brain and Behavior (Complex Adaptive Systems) by Scott Kelso
The list author says:
  "An insightful look at how information might actually be used by organic systems. Widens the horizons on this important issue. Heaviness rating - 4"
£21.80   Used & New from: £15.00
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

The Collapse of Chaos: Discovering Simplicity in a Complex World (Penguin Science)
14.  The Collapse of Chaos: Discovering Simplicity in a Complex World (Penguin Science) by Ian Stewart
The list author says:
  "Hits most of the right buttons and easy reading. Not a deep treatment but good as an introduction. Heaviness rating - 2"
£7.69   Used & New from: £1.54
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

Three Roads to Quantum Gravity: A New Understanding Of Space, Time And The Universe (Science Masters)
15.  Three Roads to Quantum Gravity: A New Understanding Of Space, Time And The Universe (Science Masters) by Lee Smolin
The list author says:
  "An excellent book even though it is stepping backwards into an organic view of fundamental physics. Heaviness rating - 3"
Used & New from: £1.00
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

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The End of Certainty: Time, Chaos and the New Laws of Nature
16.  The End of Certainty: Time, Chaos and the New Laws of Nature by Ilya Prigogine
The list author says:
  "This offers an organic view of time. So essential reading if you want to rethink physics. Heaviness rating - 3"
£17.99   Used & New from: £6.99
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)

The Origins of Order: Self-Organization and Selection in Evolution
17.  The Origins of Order: Self-Organization and Selection in Evolution by Stuart A. Kauffman
The list author says:
  "The Santa Fe brand of complexity. Kauffman is stimulating, important in some respects, but he only deals with aspects of organicism - self-organisation mainly. Heaviness rating - 4"
£43.70   Used & New from: £28.04
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

Emergence: From Chaos to Order
18.  Emergence: From Chaos to Order by John H. Holland
The list author says:
  "This should have been good as Holland is a good hierarchy thinker. But it disappoints badly as he never really explores the reasons for the causal power of hierarchies. Heaviness rating - 1"
£12.74   Used & New from: £8.92
2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

Complexity: The Emerging Science at the Edge of Order and Chaos (Penguin Science)
19.  Complexity: The Emerging Science at the Edge of Order and Chaos (Penguin Science) by M.Mitchell Waldrop
The list author says:
  "Santa Fe brand complexity again. But a fine overview with lots of the history. Heaviness rating - 1"
Used & New from: £4.64
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)

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The Ontogeny of Information: Developmental Systems and Evolution (Science & Cultural Theory)
20.  The Ontogeny of Information: Developmental Systems and Evolution (Science & Cultural Theory) by Richard C. Lewontin
The list author says:
  "Worth mentioning as some see this as crucial. It certainly tackles the right issues but not as deep as it thinks. Heaviness rating - 3"
£17.59   Used & New from: £13.09

How the Leopard Changed its Spots: Evolution of Complexity
21.  How the Leopard Changed its Spots: Evolution of Complexity by Brian Goodwin
The list author says:
  "How to grow a body - what the genes don't need to do. A bit too biased at times but brings good data to the table. Heaviness rating - 2"
Used & New from: £2.71
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

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The Origins of Life: From the Birth of Life to the Origin of Language
22.  The Origins of Life: From the Birth of Life to the Origin of Language by The late John Maynard Smith
The list author says:
  "An elegant thinker who is more organic (in his causality) than most evolutionary theorists. Heaviness rating - 2"
£12.00   Used & New from: £5.90
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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About this Listmania!

 

Author

John McCrone
Qualifications: science writer
Last updated: 03/07/2003
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