The Hidden Connections: A Science for Sustainable Living. Fritjof Capra, 2004, A Review Essay.

 KELLY OGBEMUDIA UDEBHULU.

INTRODUCTION:

The objective of this course is to analyze the book, Fritjof Capra`s "The Hidden Connections". In this book, Capra attempts to bring a universal but unique conceptual formular for the understanding of material and social structures that integrates life’s biological, cognitive and social dimensions and offers a clear systematic approach to some challenging issues we face as a people living on the surface of the planet earth daily. Under clear understanding of the book; "Learning" is a hidden connection in the book.

It makes much of the "creation of knowledge. "It recognizes that "knowledge creation is an individual process. " It is a unique emergent property of the mind/brain of each individual. It comes from the networks of communites in which the individual is embedded. Capra sees "a system of education for sustainable living, based on ecoliteracy, at the primary and secondary school levels, . . . with a pedagogy that puts the understanding of life at it very center; and experience of life in the real world . . ." He notes "that life, from its beginning, did not take over the planet by combat but by networking."

He further intends to indoctrinate us with the belief that we are evolved animals and ultimately are, in effect, nothing more than a chance re-arrangement of matter. However, I shall examine this issues raised by  Capra concretely as it relates to my life as an individual, the community, nation and the world.

LIFE, MIND, AND SOCIETY.
i) THE NATURE OF LIFE.

Capra argues that , afterall, social reality evolved out of the  biological world between two to four million years ago, when a species of "Southern apes" (Australopithecus afarensis) stood up and began to walk on two legs. In contrast biblically and from some scientific researches, "Human" and 'Apes -chimpanzee, monkeys etc-" are different though similar in some areas. According to Jonathan Sarfati, Ph.D., F.M in "Humans: images of God or advanced apes?" chapter 6, "...An architect commonly uses the same building material for different buildings, and a carmaker commonly uses the same parts in different cars. So we shouldn't be surprised if a Designer for life used the same biochemistry and structures in many different creatures. Conversely, if all living organisms were totally different, this might look like there were many designers instead of one". My question to Capra is “From which apes did man evolve?.

The bible tells us that on the same day He made all animals that walk on the earth and on the the sixth day, He created man (Adam) separately in His own image with the intent that man would have dominion over every other living thing on earth (Genesis 1:26–28). From this it is clear that there is no animal that is man’s equal.

 When God paraded the animals to Adam for him to name, He observed that “for Adam there was not found an help mate for him” (Genesis 2:20). Jesus confirmed this uniqueness of men and women when He declared that marriage is to be between a man and a woman because “from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female” (Mark 10:6). This leaves no room for prehumans or for millions of years of cosmic evolution prior to man’s appearance on the earth. Adam chose the very name “Eve” for his wife because he recognized that she would be “the mother of all living” (Genesis 3:20). The apostle Paul stated clearly that man is not an animal: “All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds” (1 Corinthians 15:39). But, for the sole objective to analyzing this book "The Hidden Connections",  I shall further base my emphasis solely upon the issues raised herein.

Meanwhile, no individual organism can exist in isolation. For example : animals depend on photosynthesis of plants for their energy needs; plants depend on the carbon dioxide produced by animals to survive. Jointly, plants, animals and micro organisms control the entire biosphere and maintain the conditions suitable for life. I agree with Capra on this view. For example the body structure is designed in such a way that all the body organs  although distinct must be in place and inter-dependent in-order for the body to function. Likewise from the individual to community, nation and the world, no one can  exist in isolation, we need each other to form a dynamic society. For instance, I was assisted in life by my elder brother to become a man of my own immediately I lost my father at my tender age. Sooner or later I became a full grown up man, my elder brother was slightly not capable to have money as he was before, I took up the responsibility to train his children and care for our family.

Among all living and non living beings, cordial relationship plus interactions of all kinds exist naturally hence I will strive to make a world where the less privileged and those in need get what they desire without much obstacles, restrictions and regulations once I acquire my desire knowledge through education.
According to  Capra’s view, the Gaia theory of James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis states, the evolution of the first living organisms went hand in hand with the transformation of the planetary surface from an inorganic environment to a self regulating biosphere. To support the nature of life, Capra states that; Life is not solely determined by a genetic blueprint, but rather, is an “emergent process” that involves an “entire epigenetic network” that is constantly reacting to both the physical and chemical constraints of our environment. He proceeds to say that; The unfolding of life over time, though it has appeared gradual, has been punctuated by periods of rapid transition. (Capra 2004, p.12). “In that sense,” writes Harold Morowitz, “Life is a property of planets rather than of individual organisms.”(Capra 2004, p.5,6).

THE CELLULAR NETWORK.

According to Stewart:

"I predict-- and I am by no means alone-- that one of the most exciting growth areas of twenty-first century science will be bio-mathematics. The next century will witness an explosion of new mathematical concepts, of new kinds of mathematics, brought into being by the need to understand the patterns of the living world".
Capra reveals that a living cell works quite differently. It's a network of processes that actually continuously build the parts. The parts from the cell do not come from outside; they are created by the cell itself macro molecules and cellular structures.  In this way, the entire network continually produces itself. You can draw a diagram of the various cellular structures, and you will see that when the energy carriers are created in the cell's powerhouses, they swarm out over the entire cell and go to all the processes where energy is needed. The same thing happens when enzyme are created. They too swarm out, and the amazing thing is that these processes happen very fast. Synthesis of very complex molecules goes on all the time and goes on very fast. The macro molecules constantly travel to different areas where they are engaged in chemical processes. So these material structures that form the links between two processes are the links in the network. The network is a non-material network; it's a functional network where these structures interconnect biochemical processes. These are the links in a network of production processes, which is a specific pattern.

We have learned that a cell is a membrane-bounded, self-generating. organizationally closed metabolic network; that it is mentally and energetically open, using a constant  flow of matter and energy  to produce repair and perpetuate itself; and that it operates far from equilibrium, where new structures  and new forms  of order may spontaneously emerge, thus leading to development and evolution (Capra. 2004. P.14)

THE SANTIAGO THEORY OF COGNITION – Maturana and Varela.

The highlight of the Santiago Theory is the advance of the systems view of life to abandon the Cartesian view of mind as a thing, and to realize that mind and consciousness are not things but processes. The central insight of the Santiago Theory is the identification of cognition, the process of knowing, with the process of life. Cognition , according to Maturana and Varela, is the activity involved in the self – generation and self- perpetuation of living networks. In other words, according to Capra, cognition is the very process of life.
The organizing activity of living systems, at all levels of life, is mental activity. The interactions of a living organism, plant, animal or human with its environment are cognitive interactions. Thus life and cognition are inseparably connected. Also, according to Capra, mind and mental activity is immanent in matter at all levels of life. (Capra, 2004, p. 34). In the Santiago theory, cognition is closely linked to autopoiesis, the self generation of living networks. The defining characteristic of an autopoietic system is that it undergoes continual structural changes while preserving its web-like pattern of organisation. The components of the network continually produce and transform one another, and they do so in two distinct ways.
i)  Self-renewal. Every living organism continually renews itself, as its cells break down and build up structures, and tissues and organs replace their cells in continual cycles. In spite of this ongoing change, the organism maintains its overall identity, or pattern of organisation.

ii) Creation of new structures – new connections in the autopoietic network. These changes, developmental rather than cyclical, also take place continually, either as a consequence of environmental influences or as a result of the system’s internal dynamics.

According to the theory of autopoiesis, a living system couples to its environment structurally, i.e. through recurrent interactions, each of which triggers structural changes in the system. For example, a cell membrane continually incorporates substances from its environment into the cell’s metabolic processes.
Conclusively, I understand that the organization and interactions which are relatively connected to understanding and intelligence are dynamic factors inherent in the process of life and existent at all apects of life. And this transcends from the individual life to the community, nation and international and to secure a better place to live, there must be a cohesive understanding and awareness among inhabitants.

The Origins of Human Language.

"Speech would have evolved later from the capacity for "syntax" - an ability to follow complex patterned sequences in the making of tools, in gesturing and informing words". (Capra 2004, P 58).

Technology is an essential part of human nature, indivisible from the evolution of language and consciousness. Speech and precise hand movements arise from the same area of the brain. Speech = gesture of tongue. It is more sophisticated than hand gestures –you don’t have to see to communicate, and it leaves the hands free. The more precise hand movements allowed the development of tools. Thus, the ability to make and use complex tools and produce sophisticated vocal sounds evolved together.

Language was originally embodied in gesture and evolved together with human consciousness. Recent findings suggest that conceptual thought is embodied physically in the body and brain i.e. human reason does not transcend the body, but is shaped crucially by our physical nature and our bodily experience. The very structure of reason arises from our bodies and brains For example: The spatial concept of in front/behind comes from our experience of our body and our experience of color derives from reflected light on specific cones in the retina. In other words, the structures of our bodies and brains determine the concepts we can form and the reasoning we can engage in.

Chapter 3: Social Reality.

Capra defines the pattern of organisation of a living system as the configuration of relationships among the system’s components that determines the system’s essential characteristics, the structure of the system as the material embodiment of its pattern of organisation, and the life process as the continual process of this embodiment.

When we study living systems from the perspective of form, we find that their pattern of organisation is that of a self-generating network. From the perspective of matter, the material structure of a living system is a dissipative structure, i.e. an open system operating far from equilibrium. From the process perspective, finally, living systems are cognitive systems in which the process of cognition is closely linked to the pattern of an autopoiesis or self generation. In a nutshell, this is Capra’s synthesis of the new scientific understanding of life.

The essential characteristic that distinguishes living from non living systems – the cellular metabolism – is not a property of matter, nor a special ‘vital force’. It is a specific pattern of relationships among chemical processes that produce material components; the network pattern itself is non material.

The structural changes in this network pattern are understood as cognitive processes that eventually give rise to conscious experience and conceptual thought. All these cognitive phenomena are non material, but they are embodied – they arise from and are shaped by the body. Thus, life is never divorced from matter, even though its essential characteristics – organisation, complexity, processes and so on – are non material.

THE ORIGIN OF POWER.

One of the most striking characteristics of social reality is the phenomenon of power. According to economist John Kenneth Galbraith, “The exercise of power, the submission of some to the will of others, is inevitable in modern society; nothing whatever is accomplished without it . . . Power can be socially malign; it is also socially essential.” The social role of power in social organization is linked to inevitable conflicts  of interest. Capra reiterates that because of our ability to preferences and make choices accordingly, conflict of interest will appear in any human community, and power is the means by which these conflicts are resolved. According to Capra this does not necessarily  imply the threat or use of violence.

Galbraith distinguishes  three kinds of power, depending on the means that are employed. According to him, coercive power wins submission by inflicting or threatening sanctions. In my opinion that is the means  and the kind of power the United States of America (U.S.A) and the United Nations Organization (UNO) have majorly employed to resolve conflicts , and in most cases it has done more harm than good. Galbraith continuing mentioned, compensatory power by offering incentives or rewards; and conditioned power by changing beliefs through persuasion or education.

Capra states that, to find the right mixture of these three kind of power in order to resolve conflicts and balance conflicting interests is the act of politics. A community would be able to act much more effectively if somebody had the authority to make or facilitate decisions, when there were conflicts of interest.In other words that is to say that for a community, state or nation to function effectively, there will be visionary leaders who have the ability to discern the need of the people and find ways of solving them.

As a community grows and increases in complexity, its positions of power will also increase. In complex societies, resolutions of conflicts and decisions about how to act will be effective only if authority and power are organised within administrative structures. In social theory, all rules of conduct are included in the concept of social structures, whether they are informal, resulting from continual coordinations of behaviour, or formalised, documented and enforced by laws. All such formal structures, or social institutions, are ultimately rules of behaviour that facilitate decision-making and embody relationships of power.

According to Capra, the original meaning of authority is not power to command”, but a firm basis for knowing and acting.” For example, as Capra mentions, when we need a firm basis for knowing, we might consult an authoritative text; when we have a serious illness, we look for a doctor who is an authority in the relevant field of medicine. Here, Capra is trying to emphasize that leadership and the act of governance should be invested on those who have the wisdom and experience as that would be the rallying point for a collective action. (Capra, 2004, p.88,89)

Chapter 4: Life and Leadership in Organisations.

It is becoming ever more apparent that our complex industrial systems, both organisational and technological, are the main driving forces of global environmental destruction, and the main threat to the long-term survival of humanity. To build a sustainable society for our children and future generations, we need to fundamentally redesign many of our technologies and social institutions so as to bridge the wide gap between human design and the ecologically sustainable systems of nature.

"In recent surveys,CEOs reported again and again that their efforts at organizational change did not yield the promised results. Instead of managing new organizations, threy ended up managing the unwanted side effects of their efforts." (Capra 2004. P. 99)

Organisations need to undergo fundamental changes, both in order to adapt to the new business environment and to become ecologically sustainable. When we look around our natural environment, we see continuous change, adaptation and creativity; and yet, our business organisations seem to be incapable of dealing with change. Capra believes that the roots of this paradox lie in the dual nature of human organisations.

On the one hand, they are social institutions designed for specific
purposes, such as making money for their shareholders, managing the distribution of political power, transmitting knowledge or spreading religious faith. At the same time, organisations are communities of people who interact with one another to build relationships, help each other and make their daily activities meaningful at a personal level.

These two aspects of organisations correspond to two very different types of change. Many managers see their company as a well designed tool for achieving specific purposes, and when they attempt to change its design they want predictable, quantifiable change in the entire structure. However, the designed structure always intersects with the organisation’s living individuals and communities, for whom change cannot be designed.

GLOBAL CAPITALISM.

With the creation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the mid 1990s, economic globalization, characterized by “free trade” was hailed by corporate leaders and politicians as a new  order that would benefit all nations, producing worldwide economic expansion whose wealth would spread to all. According to Capra, rather, environmentalists and grass root activists realized that the WTO was unsustainable and was producing a multitude of interconnected fatal consequences, social disintegration, a breakdown of democracy, more rapid and extensive deterioration of the  environment, spread of new diseases and increasing poverty and alienation.

Manuel Castells, Professor of Sociology at the University of California at Berkeley, made a case on globalization. On his analysis of the fundamental processes underlying economic globalization, Castell believes that, before attempting to reshape globalization, we need to understand the deep systemic roots of the world that is now emerging. He writes in the prologue of his book, The rise of the Network Society published by Blackwell, Castells  according to Capra mentions, “ that all major trends of change constituting our new, confusing world are related, and that we can make sense of their interrelationship. And, yes, I believe, in spite of a long tradition of sometimes tragic intellectual errors, that observing, analyzing , and theorizing is a way of helping to build a different better world.” (Capra, 2004, p.129, 130)
However, despite the short comings of economic globalization, in my own opinion, globalization has yielded very positive results. The advancement in Information technology, which introduced computers, GSM, and internet, communication has been made easier. With improved tele-communication, our world has moved forward and has become a global village.

SUMMARY.

At the begining of this analysis, the objective of this course was revealed to  examining the various issues raised by Capra in his attempt to present a new understanding to the various issues we face as living and non beings here on earth. In doing that, we have considered the connections and interrelations at different levels of life. We have seen that from plants to animals and to humans, there is a link. And no individual organism can exist in isolation.Whereas some biblical facts were raised that He (God) created man (Adam) separately in His own image with the intent that man would have dominion over every other living thing on earth and  it is clear that there is no animal that is man’s equal.

On the pattern of organisation of a living system as the configuration of relationships among the system’s components that determines the system’s essential characteristics, the structure of the system as the material embodiment of its pattern of organisation, and the life process as the continual process of this embodiment.
We viewed the exercise of  power,  a scenerio of leadership and followership principles which is in-evitable in modern society. Authority is not power to command but a firm basis to knowing.

In addition,to build a sustainable society for our children and future generations, we need to fundamentally redesign many of our technologies and social institutions.

WTO was hailed by corporate leaders and politicians as a new order that would benefit all nations, but activists realized that it was unsustainable and producing a multitude of interconnected fatal consequences. And that all major trends of change constituting to our new world are related and that we can make sense of their interrelationship.

Thus, we have been reminded that we need ourselves politically, economically, socially, religiously and developmentally as individuals, communitiesand nations because no one can survive in isolation hundred percentage (100%) here on earth. Big or small, we find one another at supply and demand environments and territories.

REFERENCES.
1-  Maturana Humberto and Varela. Autopoiesis and Cognition. Holland: (1980).
2 – The Nature of Life (Capra, 2004, p.5,6,12)
3 -  The Santiago Theory of Cognition ( Capra, 2004, p.349)
4-  The Origin of Power ( Capra, 2004, p. 88, 89)
5-  The Networks of Global Capitalism ( Capra, 2004,p.129, 130)
6- Morowitz, Harold. Beginning of Cellular Life. Yale University Press: (1992).
7- D.J. Batten, Y-Chromosome Adam? Journal of Creation 9 (2):139–140, 1995.