The local-global relationship of nature

Ron Cottam; Roland Cazalis; Roger Vounckx

doi:10.1016/j.biosystems.2023.105012

The local-global relationship of nature

Biosystems. 2023 Oct:232:105012. doi: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2023.105012. Epub 2023 Sep 1.

Authors

Ron Cottam¹, Roland Cazalis², Roger Vounckx³

Affiliations

¹ The Living Systems Project, Dept. of Electronics and Informatics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: ricottam@etrovub.be.
² Département 'Sciences, Philosophies, Sociétés', Université de Namur, rue de Bruxelles, 61, 5000, Namur, Belgium.
³ The Living Systems Project, Dept. of Electronics and Informatics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.

PMID: 37659677
DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2023.105012

Abstract

In the light of possible advance in the elucidation of emergence in natural systems we address the likelihood of an overriding relationship between the local and the global in Nature. We consider the possible views of an abstract conglomeration of entities, and whether a global representation can be established. This leads to a consideration of the problem in natural contexts to establish a relationship between local and global properties. We describe the application of a model-hierarchical representation to a biological cell, and its implications in terms of subjective and objective viewpoints. We conclude by stating the concluded relationship between local and global properties in Nature, in that control is exercised not only from local-to-global, but also from global-to-local.

MeSH terms

Nature*