E-LOGOS 2009, 16(1):1-11

Mosaic structures - a working hypothesis for the complexity of living organisms

Georges Chapouthier
Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Paris, France

The present argument, compatible with Darwin's theory of evolution, explores the development of living species and the shift to ever increasing complexity. Two basic phenomena provide the keys to evolution towards complexity: juxtaposition and integration. These operations produce structures following the mosaic principle, i.e. juxtaposition, accumulating identical units, and integration, developing into a more sophisticated version with the original units then becoming component parts. Examples cited are from genetics, anatomy and human society. The human brain and mental operations, including memory and language, are analysed as mosaic structures. In line with modern Aristotelian stances, such as Konstantin Khroutski's biocosmology, the possibility of applying this biological theory outside the field of biology is discussed.

Prepublished online: December 31, 2009; Published: June 1, 2009  Show citation

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Chapouthier, G. (2009). Mosaic structures - a working hypothesis for the complexity of living organisms. E-LOGOS, 16(1), 1-11
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