Elisabet Sahtouris - Evolution Without Darwin

Dr. Elisabet Sahtouris recasts the classic, mechanistic view of the universe and refutes the basis for Darwin's theory of natural selection with her unique revisioning of biology, evolution—and creation itself—as the product of self-organizing intelligent systems. In Sahtouris' view, evolution is not a matter of random mutation or the unconscious by-product of scarcity driven survival instincts, but is the direct expression of an intrinsic dynamism common to all creation. This “intelligence” moves toward ever higher levels of cooperation based on the mutual flourishing of life itself rather than the combative stance of one form against another. Sahtouris applies these same evolutionary biological principles to her work with various social organizations, applying her powerful understanding toward the goal of intentionally creating resilient and stable “living systems” throughout human society.

BIO

Dr. Elisabet Sahtouris is an evolution biologist, futurist, author, and consultant to organizations. In her unique approach, called "Living Systems Design," she applies the principles of biology and evolution to organizational development so that organizations may become more functional, healthy "living systems," with increased resilience, stability, and cooperation. She is one of a select group of scientists rethinking the classic, mechanistic view of the universe. Her particular goal is to create sustainable health and well-being for humanity within the larger living systems of Earth.

Her books include EarthDance: Living Systems in Evolution (iUniverse, 2000), A Walk Through Time: From Stardust to Us (John Wiley & Sons, 1998), and Biology Revisioned, co-authored with Willis Harman (North Atlantic Books, 1998). She has been invited to China by the Chinese National Science Association, organized Earth Celebration 2000 in Athens, Greece, and has been a United Nations consultant on indigenous peoples. She was a participant in the Humanity 3000 dialogues of the Foundation for the Future and in the Synthesis Dialogues with the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala. She consults with corporations and government organizations in Australia, Brazil, and the USA.

Dr. Sahtouris completed her postdoctoral work at the American Museum of Natural History in New York and taught at the University of Massachusetts and M.I.T. She was a science writer for the Horizon/Nova television series. She currently resides in California.