Systems View Of Man

What does it mean to be human? What distinguishes man from other animals? â??Man's creation of the universe of symbols,â? replies Ludwig von Bertalanffy. â??Man lives in a world not of things, but of symbols.â? Dr. von Bertalanffy explores the historical development of symbolic language, examines the nature of human values, and shows how a current breakdown of symbolic universes contributes to the feeling of meaninglessness so prevalent in modern society. He notes that a major portion of mankind's aggressive acts are not biologically induced but arise within symbolic frameworks.