Systems View of Man

Taylor & Francis

What does it mean to be human? What distinguishes man from other animals? \u00E2\u20AC\u0153Man\u2019s creation of the universe of symbols,\u00E2\u20AC replies Ludwig von Bertalanffy. \u00E2\u20AC\u0153Man lives in a world not of things, but of symbols.\u00E2\u20AC Dr. von Bertalanffy explores the historical development of symbolic language, examines the nature of human values, and shows how a current breakdown of symbolic universes contributes to the feeling of meaninglessness so prevalent in modern society. He notes that a major portion of mankind\u2019s aggressive acts are not biologically induced but arise within symbolic frameworks. > What does it mean to be human? What distinguishes man from other animals? \u00E2\u20AC\u0153Man\u2019s creation of the universe of symbols,\u00E2\u20AC replies Ludwig von Bertalanffy. \u00E2\u20AC\u0153Man lives in a world not of things, but of symbols.\u00E2\u20AC Dr. von Bertalanffy explores the historical development of symbolic language, exax