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The Earth is much more than a "Ball of Rock". Of James Grier Miller's Living Systems Criteria of 21 essential functions of a Living System, the Earth as a complex system of Geologic, Geographic, Meteorologic and Eco-Systemic subsystems qualifies as a living system.
In the same manner, one could call a City a big pile of concrete and steel. If you quantified it just by weight, those would be its largest components. But a big pile of concrete is not sufficient to be a city.
Systems are embedded in other systems and can be considered sub-systems, or components of larger systems. Buckminster Fuller considered all systems to be sub-systems of larger systems, with the ultimate system being 'Universe'.
The Earth can be considered just a collection of living things that live in it and upon it, doing what they do. But then again, each of us human organisms are a collection of living cells, most of which (by numbers) aren't even human (they're bacterial cells). Are we living systems, or are we just a collection of eukaryotic and procaryotic cells 'doing what they do'? The human being is more than that collection of cells. It has emergent properties that aren't predicted by the nature of their individual cells.
The Earth is the same. As a whole it exhibits qualities that aren't predicted by any of its constituent parts, be they living or non-living systems.
The very nature of life on earth has transformed the non-living components of it. Before there were oxygen generating bacteria, the Earth's atmosphere was Methane based. During that time free iron existed in its non-oxidized state. As the Earth switched from largely anaerobic to aerobic generated atmosphere any free iron was oxidized into ferrous iron compounds. This evolution of the living ocean and atmosphere changed the very nature of the geology of the Earth.
A living system is not just the substrate that it is composed of. In this regard living systems are special cases of 'dispersive structures'. The classic dispersive structure is the whirlpool. A whirlpool is not water. Water can be a substrate that carries energy (volume and velocity) through the whirlpool. In any instant the particular water molecules are being replaced by other water molecules. The Whirlpool exists between two energy thresholds - a minimum energy threshold and a maximum energy threshold. Too little water moving too slowly or too much water moving too fast will destroy the whirlpool.
The Earth as a single living system, or GAIA to use the old greek word for it, or as an eco-system of independent lifeforms co-evolving together, is in some ways relative to the position of the observer. This was the epiphany that the first lunar astronauts had when they looked back on the Earth. On the Earth within its biosphere, the Earth looks like an Eco-system. while away from the Earth, on the Moon, it looked like a single jewel.
If explorers could be shrunk to microbial size and injected into a living human, as was the plot of the movie Fantastic Voyage person's body would look like some sort of exotic extra-terrestrial world rather than just the inside of a single organism.
So, the best answer is that the Earth is both a collection of co-evolving species as well as a coherent single living system.
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Mendels principles of genetics apply to?
Mendel's principles of genetics apply to all sexually reproducing organisms, including plants, animals, and humans. His principles help explain patterns of inheritance such as dominant and recessive traits, segregation, and independent assortment of alleles.
Why does a rock not apply to the cell theory?
It doesn't have all the properties that living things have. They don't reproduce or eat or move away from a negative stimulus.
What are the flaws in the theory of natural law?
Some common criticisms of natural law theory include the subjectivity of determining what is "natural," the potential for conflicting interpretations of natural law principles, and the assumption that there is a universal set of moral principles that apply to all individuals and societies. Additionally, critics argue that natural law theory may not adequately account for cultural or historical differences in ethical beliefs and practices.
What is the role of reason in natural law theory?
In natural law theory, reason is considered essential for identifying and understanding the moral principles that govern human behavior. Through reason, individuals can deduce universal moral principles that are inherent in nature and apply them to guide their actions towards the common good. Reason helps individuals to discern what is morally right or wrong independent of subjective desires or preferences.
What cells do the cell theory apply to?
The cell theory applies to all living cells, including those found in plants, animals, fungi, and single-celled organisms. It states that all living organisms are composed of one or more cells, cells are the basic unit of structure and function in living organisms, and all cells come from pre-existing cells.
How ca we apply the cell theory to better understand living and non living things?
How can we apply the cell theory to better understand living and non living things
What is an idea arrived at logically from a theory?
An idea arrived at logically from a theory is a deduction. It involves reasoning from the principles of the theory to draw a conclusion or make a prediction. Deductions allow us to apply established knowledge to new situations or problems.
Mendels principles of genetics apply to?
Mendel's principles of genetics apply to all sexually reproducing organisms, including plants, animals, and humans. His principles help explain patterns of inheritance such as dominant and recessive traits, segregation, and independent assortment of alleles.
What happens to vehicles in a collision and the principles that apply here?
what happens to a vehicle in a collision and the principles that apply
What are the fundamental principles of music theory as they apply to understanding and utilizing guitar chords?
The fundamental principles of music theory for understanding and using guitar chords involve knowing the notes in a chord, understanding chord progressions, and recognizing chord inversions. These principles help guitarists create harmonious and melodic sounds when playing chords on the guitar.
Can a glacier be a example of the cell theory?
No. Cell theory is the idea that all living things are made of cells. Glaciers are not alive and do not have cells, so cell theory does not apply in any way whatsoever.
Is it true that Mendels principles apply not to just to pea plants but to other organism as well?
Yes, Mendel's principles of inheritance, such as the law of segregation and the law of independent assortment, apply to many other organisms beyond pea plants. These principles have been found to hold true in various animals, plants, and even humans, demonstrating their widespread relevance in genetics.
What do mendels principles apply to?
Gregor Mendel developed principles of heredity.
How does the perturbation theory apply to a two-level system?
In a two-level system, perturbation theory is used to analyze how a small change or disturbance affects the system's behavior. It helps to calculate the system's response to external influences and predict its behavior under different conditions.
Is theory and method the same thing?
No, theory and method are not the same thing. Theory refers to a set of principles or ideas used to explain a phenomenon, while method refers to the way in which research or analysis is conducted to test or apply a theory. Theory guides research by providing a framework, while method is the specific approach used to gather and analyze data.
Why does a rock not apply to the cell theory?
It doesn't have all the properties that living things have. They don't reproduce or eat or move away from a negative stimulus.
Does the multiple selves theory apply to brand decisions for consumers?
does multiple selves theory apply to brand decisions for consumers? does multiple selves theory apply to brand decisions for consumers?
