The philosopher of science Karl Popper created a framework of natural systems using the metaphors of clocks and clouds. In this framework, a clock-like system is one that is mechanical, linear, and predictable. Its organization can be decomposed into and recomposed from smaller components. On the other hand, a cloud-like system is one that is… Continue reading A Clock or a Cloud?
Tag: Cancer
Metaphors We Live (and Die) Through
In their influential book Metaphors We Live By, George Lakoff and Mark Johnson make the point that metaphors are pervasive in human cognition. They in fact structure “thought and action.” A metaphor typically defined as “understanding and experiencing one kind of thing in terms of another” are more than “devices of poetic imagination...rhetorical flourish” or… Continue reading Metaphors We Live (and Die) Through
Sand Castles
Termites build mounds, beavers construct dams, bees assemble hives, and spiders weave webs. The drive to build is ubiquitous in the natural world and is an evolved strategy to cope with uncertain, complex, and dangerous habitats. This force, known as niche construction, reduces the environment to manageable and predictable units, shields organisms from known risks,… Continue reading Sand Castles
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