A Sympoietic View of Life: Gaia as a Holobiont Community

Scott Gilbert

doi:10.20944/preprints202309.1072.v1

Preprint Review Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Version 1 : Received: 14 September 2023 / Approved: 15 September 2023 / Online: 18 September 2023 (05:45:03 CEST)

A view of life, based on sympoiesis, metabolism, and the second law of thermodynamics is proposed. Sympoiesis is the notion that organisms develop as teams, and that symbionts play roles in forming their partners. Metabolism is seen to occur not only within these developmental symbionts, but between them, as well. This occurs through thermodynamic principles of finding the lowest free energy states. Once one accepts the thermodynamics of metabolism and that holobionts emerge through sympoiesis, Gaia becomes readily understood. New ethical principles flow from these considerations.

sympoiesis; Gaia; thermodynamics; metabolism; ethics

Biology and Life Sciences, Cell and Developmental Biology

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A Sympoietic View of Life: Gaia as a Holobiont Community

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