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Living System Functional Operation
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From an evolutionary point of view, the general purpose of an individual living system entity is to live and reproduce. In its simplest terms, to live means to sustain a consistent set of internal conditions, while interacting with an often harsh and changing environment to obtain energy and nourishment. The required homeostasis is maintained through the actions of components who collectively carry out the necessary life functions. Performing these life functions to maintain its own homeostasis is the foundation of the living system's existence throughout its operation period.
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Within the three-level hierarchy, things get more complicated. There is a spectrum of cooperation and involvement, ranging from living systems that are fully independent and face the world environment directly, to those that are totally dependent upon a higher-level living system for nourishment and protection. To help highlight the great differences in living system characteristics that occur across this spectrum, the following chart provides a comparison of the two end points, fully-independent and fully-dependent.
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Fully-Independent
Living System
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Fully-Dependent
Living System
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Control of Actions:
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self-controlled
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externally controlled
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Interaction with Environment: |
immediate and direct
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little or none
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Source of Nourishment:
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environment
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higher-level living system
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Protection from Environment:
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its own structure and actions
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higher-level living system
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Specialization Required:
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none
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complete
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Peer Relationship:
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competition
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cooperation
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Examples:
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bacterium, worm, ant colony
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human cell, ant
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Dependency Spectrum
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Within the three-level hierarchy, many cells and organisms do not fall neatly into either end of the spectrum. The following chart provides a rough approximation to visualize where various kinds of living system might appear across the spectrum:
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Within a given species, the characteristics of individual cells and organisms may sometimes vary widely, depending on circumstances and time. A fungus may exist as a fully-independent entity, or may merge with others. A male lion may live alone for a time, and then join a social pride of lions.
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Dependency Determines Purpose
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The purpose of a living system's existence is contextual. When it exists independently, the living system's whole purpose is to live and reproduce, thereby contributing to the gene pool of its species. But when it exists dependently within the three-level hierarchy, its individual purpose becomes subordinated to that of its higher-level living system. To the extent that it is dependent, its purpose is to perform specialized work as required by the higher-level living system. Its own existence then becomes a means to that end.
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For a living system that falls between these two extremes, its function/purpose is split. Its life involves some aspects of independent self-centered living and reproducing, but a major portion is focused on selfless contribution to the life functions of its higher-level living system. For example, a typical human citizen's existence is split between personal "home life" with his family and friends, and the "work life" of his job within an organization.
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The typical human organism is oriented strongly toward his own independent existence, and often perceives the organization that pays him for his work as the end recipient of his efforts. He seldom thinks of his work within an organization as a contribution to a life function of his nation-state-city, except in emergencies such as war or natural disaster. Even then, there is little awareness of his nation's aggregate object structure and how widely it imposes constraints on his own behavior.
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Within the three-level hierarchy, a human citizen sees the purpose of his day-to-day existence in terms of independent living and surviving. He views the work he performs in terms of fulfilling his own interests, as a means of satisfying his own needs. In contrast, the nation-state superorganism sees the purpose of his existence mainly as a dependent working component that contributes to its life function work within its organizations. Both views are valid, and will be used to help define development requirements.
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Purpose Defines Development Requirements
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Dependency and purpose are operational characteristics that can be used to help explain a living system's development requirements. Will the living system be structured to interact directly with a competitive world environment, or is it intended to function cooperatively within the internal environment of a higher-level living system?
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All capabilities for action by a living system consume resources and energy. Over time, those living systems that are streamlined and tailored for their particular environment will perform more effectively and survive better than those that carry the excess baggage of unnecessary faculties. Natural selection compels the development of just those capabilities that are required for a living system's operation under a particular dependency/purpose situation.
Development Requirements applies this dependency/purpose concept to identify the additional development that is required for dependent living systems.
©1995-2008 Ackley Associates Last revised: 4/19/08
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