title: The nature of living systems.
abstract: Living systems theory (LST) is concerned with eight levels of living systems, each of which is composed of 20 critical subsystems that carry out essential life processes. As a result of a continuous biosocial evolution involving progressive fray-out of components, the more recently developed levels in this hierarchy have become very complex. A brief summary of LST is presented in this article. Following this is a detailed analysis of current knowledge about the timer, which we have recently included in our list of subsystems.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006801:Humans; D012931:Social Environment; D013598:Systems Theory