Part 1 -machines, Organisms and the Self-organization of Systems

The first obvious difference between machines and organisms is the fact that machines are constructed, whereas organisms grow. This fundamental difference means that the understanding organisms must be process-oriented. For example, it is impossible to convey an accurate picture of a cell by means of static drawings or by describing the cell in static forms. Cells, like all living systems, have to be understood in terms of processes reflecting the system's dynamic organization. Whereas the activities of a machine are determined by its structure, the relation is reversed in organisms organic structure is determined by processes.