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How we come to be : almost everything that leads to our existence / George F. R. Ellis.
- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- Ellis, George F. R. (George Francis Rayner), author.
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Human evolution.
- Cosmology.
- Causation.
- Physics.
- Chemistry.
- Biology.
- Social ecology.
- cosmology.
- chemistry.
- biology.
- human ecology.
- Life--Origin.
- Physical Description:
- 1 online resource : illustrations
- illustration
- Place of Publication:
- Oxford ; New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2026]
- Summary:
- Our existence as living beings - thinking, feeling, acting - is an extraordinary thing: this book provides a scientifically based account of the entirety of factors that lead to our existence. The text begins with the physical foundations of our existence, examining the cosmological context of the vast expanding and evolving universe, enabling the existence of the Sun and the Earth. It goes on to summarise the underlying physics and chemistry, explaining behaviour on an atomic and molecular level, and considers the nature of biological emergence, arguing that all complex systems are modular hierarchical structures, allowing function to emerge at every level, and both upward and downward interactions occur between emergent levels. The book then goes on to examine fundamental processes such as metabolism, dealing with material and energy needs, and homeostasis, stabilising the system against perturbing influences.
- Contents:
- Prologue: emergence, its principles and operation
- The cosmological and astronomical context
- The underlying physics and chemistry
- What are the emergent biological levels and what do they do?
- How did we get here? Natural selection and developmental processes
- Perception, rationality, emotions, free will
- Society, the environment, technology and values
- Is there meaning in the universe? The deep structure of the cosmos
- Orders of magnitude.
- Notes:
- Description based on online resource; title from digital title page (Oxford Academic, viewed on August 20, 2026).
- Includes bibliographical references and index.
- Other Format:
- Print version : Ellis, George F. R. (George Francis Rayner). How we come to be.
- ISBN:
- 9780198950196
- 0198950195
- 9780198950189
- 0198950187
- OCLC:
- 1484729443
- Publisher Number:
- CIPO000403529
- Access Restriction:
- Restricted for use by site license
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