History Viewed from A Living Systems Paradigm
Duane Elgin August, 2014
Presented at the conference of the International Big History Association
At this pivotal moment in human evolution, we stand at the threshold between two fundamentally different ways of understanding our cosmic story—one that views the universe as a mechanical system composed of dead matter that somehow produces life, and another that recognizes the universe itself is a vast living system in which we are conscious participants. This essay challenges the foundational assumptions of scientific materialism that currently dominate big history narratives, offering instead a living systems paradigm supported by discoveries in quantum physics showing the universe to be a unified whole, permeated by immense background energy, engaged in continuous creation, and exhibiting consciousness at every scale. Rather than seeing ourselves as isolated biological accidents in an indifferent cosmos, this perspective reveals humanity as the universe becoming aware of itself after nearly 14 billion years of evolution—transforming not just our understanding of history but our sense of identity, purpose, and ethical responsibility. The shift from a dead to a living universe paradigm offers a scientific and philosophical framework for navigating our planetary crisis and consciously evolving toward a sustainable, compassionate and maturing civilization. By recognizing consciousness as fundamental rather than incidental, and the universe as inherently alive rather than mechanistic, we discover that big history is not merely a chronicle of blind physical processes but the story of a learning universe exploring its own depths through the emergence of self-aware beings. This living systems perspective provides the conceptual foundation needed to unite scientific understanding with the meaning and connection required for humanity’s next evolutionary leap.