Ho! Mitakuye Oyasin! Brother Gary
On Oct 25, 2009, at 9:46 AM, Timothy Zelazo wrote: > Gary: > > I enjoy the Arts because I get energy from creative minds. > > Tim > > On Sun, Oct 25, 2009 at 12:19 AM, Gary A. Beluzo <[email protected]> > wrote: > Tim, > > Mea culpa. > > Gary > > > > > > On Oct 25, 2009, at 12:08 AM, Timothy Zelazo wrote: > >> I was trying to give my mind a rest today until I read this. >> >> Tim >> >> On Sat, Oct 24, 2009 at 11:43 PM, Gary A. Beluzo >> <[email protected]> wrote: >> I am anticipating that someone will make the argument that humans >> are "natural' and that MAN-aged systems are thereore natural. >> However I use the terms NATURAL and ARTIFICIAL as useful terms to >> differentate natural systems that are essentially first-order >> autopoietic and artificial systems that are largely created or >> maintained by humans exterior to the system. In a sense these >> managed systems that are autopoietic in the second order. Second >> order in the sense that these managed systems are being controlled >> to lesser or greater degrees by humans (and therefore are not true >> first order autopoietic systems. However because they are managed >> by first order autopoietic systems (humans) then they themselves >> are no longer truly natural or of first order. >> >> The key to understanding autopoietic is to consider the location or >> original of the system's control or its "operating manual". >> Regarding a natural system, the "operating manual" is the >> collective genome of the living communiity; the DNA or blueprint >> for the system is internal to that system and hence self-created >> or AUTOPOIETIC. Managed systems are largely created by DNA that is >> exterior or outside the system's boundary. According to this >> logic, automobiles, houses, computers, and managed forests are >> artificial because that all are created or actively regulated by >> human hands. >> >> By the way, I consider NATURE to be the collective genome of all >> living systems and their environment. NATURE is self-creating and >> self-regulating. We distinguish humans from nature because NATURE >> is a complex, dynamic system controlled by unconscious processes, >> by natural selection. We appreciate NATURE because it is NOT >> controlled by us...it is "WILD". I wouldn't consider a ZOO to be >> an expression of nature or a natural place since humans decide >> which animal reproduces with which other and humans are controlling >> the environment of these animals. All of us on this list >> intuitively know the difference between a zoo and nature, a >> natural forest and a managed plantation. The difficulty comes in >> placing each forest on the >> NATURAL.............................ARTIFICIAL continuum. >> >> Sorry for the rant... >> >> Gary >> >> Gary A. Beluzo >> Professor of Environmental Science >> Division of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics >> Holyoke Community College >> 303 Homestead Avenue >> Holyoke, MA 01040 >> >> [email protected] >> 413 552-2445 >> >> >> >> >> On Oct 17, 2009, at 7:07 AM, Joseph Zorzin wrote: >> >>> That's one of Gary Beluzo's favorite terms and he's one of the few >>> people who understands it and uses it (he may have coined the >>> term) so I'm sure he'll elaborate. I have a sense of the meaning >>> and I kinda like it- I believe for Gary, it's what happens in old >>> growth forests- to what extent it may be a useful principle in any >>> sort of managed forest is the 60 million dollar question. >>> >>> In particular, the question is interesting regarding forests >>> managed for old growth structures, as described in that brochure. >>> Joe >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: Andrew Joslin >>> To: [email protected] >>> Sent: Friday, October 16, 2009 1:56 PM >>> Subject: [ENTS] Re: "Restoring Late-Successional Forest >>> Structure"??? >>> >>> >>> Joe, can you get me (us) up-to-speed on the term "autopoietic" as >>> applied to forest ecology? It sounds like you mean self- >>> regenerating or >>> self-maintaining, not sure though. >>> -AJ >>> >>> Joseph Zorzin wrote: >>> > check out >>> > http://www.masswoods.net/images/stories/pdf/forest_mgr_guide_ls_structure_web.pdf >>> > >>> > comments? >>> > >>> > Gary Beluzo? What say ye about this? Those restored pseudo semi >>> old >>> > growth forests won't be autopoietic? >>> > >>> > Joe >>> > >>> > > >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> >> >> >> > > > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
