I learned in high school that the order of living organization is:
Cell
Tissue
Organ
Organ System
Organism
It makes perfect sense. Only, I wonder if on some level a cell has conciousness. Does it understand it's position? Is it possible that it might have inteligence?
An added question/theory: I wonder if it is impossible that we also might be part of something bigger. Could you say that the Eco-system might be in and of itself an organism? What if life itself is a being? Why else would all life on earth be writen in the same four letter of DNA? GCAT? The only difference between you and a plant is how your letters are arranged, and how many of them there are. What if life on earth is a sentient being with awareness and intelect? What if DNA is God's language, and we are all in God's image because we are alive?
Think about it. The eco-system has a very advanced homeostasis procedure. Like a human body, nature can heal itself. It is very human of us to put ourseves at the top of the evolutionary ladder, but what if we were all REALLY just a part of something bigger? What if? I think that might explain on a different level disease, deity, homosexuality, and a whole slew of other things. What if the real order is:
Cell
Tissue
Organ
Organ System
Individual Organism
Supreme Organism
Please don't judge this idea until you've really asked yourself all the questions. I'd love some feedback on it.
[This message has been edited by tabularasa, 07-12-2003]