Life's big web

Systems theory shows how everything in life connects, from tiny cells to individuals, societies, nations, planet, solar system, and universe. Ludwig von Bertalanffy said living things work because of processes—like growing or adapting—not just parts. Fritjof Capra and Pier Luigi Luisi added that life mixes patterns, structures, and actions, as seen in plants, Earth, and people working together.

A dynamic web provides an appropriate metaphor. Cells adjust to changes, people adapt, the Earth keeps balance, and organizations find new ways to survive. Donella Meadows and Timothy Lenton prove this idea still works today, linking science and society. Systems theory helps us see life as an interconnected effort, not just separate pieces. It’s about understanding how living things—including us—keep going and changing with the world around them, no matter the size.