The Nature of Life

1) How do you distinguish between living and nonliving systems?


I don't distinguish between the two. All systems are alive in some way, energentically, but how and what they're living is the question, among others I'm sure. A social system, a computer system, the endocrine system. The difference is what they live in - a body, a plant, a social structure. Everything is alive via energy.

2) What do you feel is the significance of the use of language and tools in chimps?

I don't feel that there is a significance there; it's just a fact. There is a species of monkey (I forget the name...I could look it up in the Smithsonian mag @ work) that actually shares with others. They were tested by being separated in cages. The monkey would actually share his/her food with their neighbor, without any expectation of something in return. A smootching noise made by an orangetan is a sign of backing off, it's definitely not an invitation for a kiss. Chimps and primates alike are amazing creatures and it saddens me (in a way) to think that we are so surprised at their intelligence, let alone other fellow creatures of this earth. Our similarities go deeper than just language and tools, we have boundaries, hearts, feelings, etc, etc. Tools are used to get by easier and languages we use to get our points across...basic foundations for intelligence.

3) Hmmmm..."Chinese Medicine Gaining Respectability in the West"...

Finally, another example of how we "the people" use a technique different from the "norm" and the media turns it into something that they discovered due to faith in users. Due to some people's lack of faith, this will be disected, criticized more, blown up and ultimately turned into a fad. Only, like Yoga, I like this fad. Baby steps for western media, baby steps. The lights are still dim, but I'll be happy for the day when they turn on full blast, they'll be able to see! Ah ha, Eureka! The first step is admition and just like toddlers, even adults need to be reminded over and over again until the apple finally hits us on the head. Being from a society where things like Acupuncture have been accepted for years, it's easy to look at this article, point and laugh. However, there are people out there who aren't convinced and for those people who need to be pointed in the right direction (minus the laughs), I'm happy for articles like those we've read in class that come from an arrogant point of view and claim new discoveries. It's a repetitive motion in our culture, just like when Colombus discovered America, right? Here we go! At least this "discovery" is a healing, holistic modality that will nourish our culture rather than fight it. Hallelujah!