Living Systems

During the past two years, I've been exploring living systems.

As a result of taking the Capra Course given by Fritjof Capra, I am now focusing on the following Living Systems:

• Cell
• Organism
• Person
• Social System
• Ecosystem (including Human Activity)

This exploration is using the concepts of System-of-Systems from Systems Engineering. This stresses the importance of finding whole systems that participate in a network of systems.

The following diagram describes the relationship between the various types of living systems.

At the same time, I've been exploring Peter Checkland's approach to System Classification. I am using this approach to understand the planetary systems that are creating our systemic problems of today.

These systems are:

• Natural Systems
• Human Activity Systems
• Designed Physical Systems
• Designed Abstract Systems
• Transcendental Systems

When both the living systems and the classification systems are combined, the result is a Human Activity Ecosystem.