objects/metaphors-mechanistic-ecological.html

Mechanistic vs. Ecological Metaphors

from my text

Table 4-6. Mechanistic vs. Ecological metaphors.

simple (mechanistic)

not-so-simple (ecological)

ecosystem as a homogeneous area

spatial and temporal connectivity

competition

cooperation

stability

resilience

natural selection through survival of the fittest

importance of maintaining biodiversity in evolution

competitive exclusion

survival

equilibrium

pulsing

steady-state

dynamic

global homogeneity

heterogeneity