The Intuitive Way of Knowing

A Tribute to Brian Goodwin

Professor Brian Goodwin was a visionary biologist, mathematician and philosopher. Born in Canada in 1931, he studied biology at McGill University then for his PhD at Oxford under the eminent biologist Conrad Waddington. Understanding organisms as dynamic wholes, he worked to develop an alternate view to extreme Darwinism based solely on genetic factors. His evolutionary vision was centred more on archetypes than ancestors and cooperation rather than competition. As a scientist Brian's work was groundbreaking and highly influential. He was a pioneer in the field of theoretical biology, and a founding member of the prestigious Santa Fe Institute. He appeared often in debates with prominent figures such as Richard Dawkins, Stephen Jay Gould and Lewis Wolpert. In later years he was made a founding fellow at Schumacher College, Totnes, UK, where he taught holistic science and completed his last book, Nature's Due: Healing Our Fragmented Culture (Floris Books 2007). He died in July 2009. This tribute to the life and work of Brian Goodwin has contributions from eminent scholars and academi around the world, dealing with his research on pattern and form in biology and the metaphysical principles that guided him. It also includes an interview with him. The book honours both his work and personal memories of a much loved and respected colleague. Contributors include: Stuart Kauffman, Lewis Wolpert, Fritjof Capra, Margaret Boden, Michael Ruse, Fred Cummings, Mae-wan Ho, Philip Franses, Stephan Harding, Nick Monk, Claudio Stern and Johannes Jaeger