This is a review of the book. Ecology: the bottom-up perspectiveby Robert E. Ulanowicz.
Short description:
Ecology: The Ascendent Perspective, first published in 1997, is in many ways a more accessible and more philosophical sequel to Ulanowicz’s groundbreaking but highly technical book. Growth and development (1986), and can also be seen as an intermediate book between this earlier technical text and his later book A Third Window: Natural Life Beyond Newton and Darwin (2009), which is primarily philosophical. It is intended for a scientific audience and is not a popular science book, but it is quite accessible and will be an easy read for career scientists in any field, as well as motivated, science-minded college students.
The book outlines the core aspects of Ulanowicz’s network-based theory of how ecological systems grow and develop, but without delving too deeply into the mathematics. It is above all a book of ideas. The book also explores the philosophical and historical underpinnings of the ideas, which I personally find to be much more important than the specific theories themselves. Ulanowicz seems to know full well that his theories are a bit crude and unrefined, but I think the philosophical points he raises are rock solid and show deep insights that go far beyond what most scientists have to say. to offer. While there are many reasons why Ulanowicz’s theories can be criticized, it is difficult to argue with the general themes he presents, which show a keen awareness of cultural and social influences on scientific inquiry, and the innate limitations on what kind of questions. can be fruitfully asked and answered in a scientific context.
A Personal Story:
My story about reading this book is quite personal and strange.
In the fall of 2001, I enrolled at Oberlin College, where I was a senior in math. This semester, I was taking a private reading in the Biology department, on the topic of systems theory applied to biology and ecology. On September 11, 2001, early in the morning, I holed up on one of the highest floors in Oberlin and set out to read this book. I read a large part of this book in one sitting and can say that it produced a revolution in my world view, a development of new ideas that has continued to this day. When I left the building to take a lunch break, I was shocked to hear about the terrorist attacks that had recently taken place. This day was truly a world-changing day for me, in more ways than one.
My recommendations:
I recommend this book as a must-read for anyone studying any of the following topics: ecology, networks, Philosophy of scienceY systems theory. The book will be of particular interest to anyone who is interested in challenging the dominant paradigms of science and anyone who wants to become more of a systems thinker or who wants to think more in terms of networks. The book may even be useful to economists or people interested in taking a more systems-based approach to business, public policy, or other fields that involve systems of people. The style is lively and the book invites reflection. And it’s a surprisingly easy read, given the depth of repercussions of the ideas contained within.