Series Foreword vii
1 Introduction 1
2 History and Presence of Organismic Thinking in Biology 7
3 Working Hypothesis 63
4 Properties of Life 77
4.1 Interdependencies 77
4.2 Integrative Biological Systems 96
4.3 Autonomy 118
4.4 Agency 130
4.5 Processing of Molecules 140
4.6 Processing Information 149
4.7 Processing of Energy 157
4.8 Processes of Shape 167
4.9 Time Autonomy 182
4.10 Sensitivity and Affectability 195
4.11 Subjective Experience 201
4.12 The Ability to Evolve 213
4.13 Growth and Development 235
4.14 Environmental Interrelationship 244
4.15 Reproduction and Death 250
5 Synthesis 261
References 285
Index 307

"Presents a synthesis of specific properties of living organisms as they can be described by modern research in order to generate a coherent theory of life"--