I know I’m a “living system” because...
I know I'm living because I can understand myself. I can acknowledge myself with 5 senses. How do we know what else is living? Can a plant acknowledge itself? Maybe or maybe not, but it is still living. I think the term "living" really means progression. But then again, erosion is progression. Does that mean mountains are living? Are rocks living? So many questions! Not any substantial answers..
I am conscious of myself and other things, living or not. But a rock could not say the same (that we know of). So I will say I am living because I am conscious.
Biophysics and Oriental Medicine
Oriental medicine started with big ideas that summed up the basic principles of the universe. Western medicine started small and is expanding and attempting to understand itself through big principles. The more Western medicine is integrating with Eastern medicine, the more we see how biophysics has a role in Chinese medicine. We are studying the mechanisms of acupuncture and herbs, and figuring them out on a western/"biophysics" level. I see these two ways of looking at medicine as the yin and yang of the world. They may never fully merge, but they will always attempt to become closer to each other, while all the while still having individual integrity.
1 comment:
this is interesting the idea that we are living because we are conscious. It almost reminds me of the Cartesian idea "I think therefore I am". I wonder about the consciousness of plants and animals too. Certainly a good argument to be mindful of what we eat!
Post a Comment